Tourists visit Wat Arun temple in Bangkok, Thailand, Jan. 18, 2023. Photo by Reuters
The Thai government has announced that illegal tour guides could face fines of up to 100,000 baht (US$3,007), imprisonment of up to one year or both.
A task force has been established by the Ministry of Tourism and Sports to crack down on illegal tour businesses and rogue guides at popular tourist hotspots nationwide, deputy government spokesperson Sasikarn Wattanachan said as cited by Nation Thailand.
According to the Ministry of Labor, the law prohibits foreigners from working as tour guides or bringing foreign tourists, either individually or in groups, to the country.
Foreigners are also banned from providing advice or information to tourists.
Violators used to face fines of 5,000-50,000 baht ($145-1,450).
The new crackdown follows recent cases of foreigners found working illegally as tour guides.
Police in Phuket arrested two Russians for the offense on April 23 while in Bangkok a Chinese man was arrested on May 6 at Wat Phra Kaew.
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