Phuket Spies Like Us: Expat Espionage
By Chutima Sidasathiah and Prasit Tarnsirisin Monday, September 22, 2014
PHUKET: Expat volunteers are being called on to spy on holiday island tour guides as Phuket becomes serious for the first time about keeping those plum jobs for Thais.
In his new role as Director of Phuket's Business and Guide Registration Branch. Santi Pawai, chief of the Ministry of Tourism and Sports office on Phuket, aims to arrest and drive out the phoney foreign guides who have been tolerated within the system for years.
This means that the volunteer spies' secret camera and audio evidence will secure the arrests of ''tour leaders'' and expose people who have been using Thai ''sitting guides'' to beat the rules.
Thousands of illegal guides have been operating on Phuket for years, ignoring the lame attempts that have previously failed to impose order and punish the wrongdoers. That's about to change.
''Those who are arrested will not be allowed bail,'' Khun Santi told Phuketwan. ''They will be held in the cells at police stations until they appear in court. Being a guide is a job for Thai people. That's it.''
Foreign counter tour operators are also to be targetted - including the counters that many resorts have in their foyers.
Russian, Korean and Chinese expats are expected to be most in demand as volunteer spies.
Today Tourist Police will be instructing regular officers from all 10 Phuket police stations about how to garner evidence then arrest the foreign guides who have been defeating the system so far.
It's estimated that of the more than 4000 guides on Phuket, more than half are system-cheating foreigners.
Foreign tour company shareholders are also in the gun. They may invest in a Thai company, but that doesn't entitle them to work in it in any capacity.
The purge begins today - a Russian man has already been arrested - and continues through to October 6.
Would-be spies will be called in to volunteer at Tourism and Sport once the police know what they have to do. Meanwhile, all guides on Phuket have been asked to reregister at the department's Surakul Stadium office quickly.
While the crackdown is aimed at finally ending a system that hasn't functioned effectively for years, Khun Santi is also preparing Phuket for the arrival of the Asean Economic Communty.
Yesterday today and tomorrow, about 300 resort housekeepers are gaining the certificates they will need to work in that capacity across all of Asean's 10 nations. The group on Phuket is the first of 3000 who have applied for the certificate throughout Thailand.
The courses are part of the Mutual Registration Arrangement on Tourism.
People wishing to work across Asean in food and beverage roles will be the next ones to sit for certificates in a three-day course.
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Comments
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It's time they moved into the 21st century and allowed a limited number of native speaking Russians, Koreans, Chinese and Japanese to work legally as tour guides. The demographic in Phuket has changed and these new tourist go on many more tours than Europeans and need people to speak their language.
Posted by
madmitch
on
September 22, 2014 09:01
Hint-hint:
Start with the top 20 on Trip Advisor. The boat operators / owners all act as guides once the boat leaves, most utilize sitting guides. Further down the TA list you will find lots of companies operating without licences, paying taxes, proxy companies, etc.
Posted by
Tyler
on
September 22, 2014 09:07
Surely if the spies operate without a work permit, they will by default be liable to same arrest?
Posted by
Logic
on
September 22, 2014 09:10
There seems to be a match between this article and some previous posts. Video and audio evidence....... does sound familiar!
Posted by
Manowar
on
September 22, 2014 09:59
''Those who are arrested will not be allowed bail,'' Khun Santi told Phuketwan. ''They will be held in the cells at police stations until they appear in court
Great these guys have to sit in jail while corrupt officials with cases against them walk free on bail??
Jet Ski operators who have for years extorted money from tourists and are blatantly " doing business" on public beaches get to do as they please! Where is the justice I ask you.
Tom
Posted by
Tom
on
September 22, 2014 10:00
Editor Comment:
You mean ''allegedly corrupt'' Tom. Ever heard of the court system? It replaced vigilante mobs a few hundreds years ago. It may not suit you, but it works best for most people. That's where justice lives these days.
If you are a Thai guide and you do not speak English well, should you really be a guide over somebody that actually can communicate with foreigners. AEC coming soon, will be funny to watch.
Posted by
mungkood
on
September 22, 2014 10:58
We hope they will do the crackdown on all coastal provinces along the Andaman Sea other-way, foreigners will move to other provinces to avoid to be arrested and that will not stop them to work bookings through their Facebook pages and websites.
Many freelance diving Instructors are looking for customers and book dive tours through Facebook pages and websites but do not have a TAT license or may have a TAT license but in fact those dive companies do not have TAT registered tour guides working for the companies full time.
Many TAT registered guides sign the official TAT application forms to valid the TAT licenses only for money; but are in fact true Thai nominees or sitting-guides which is illegal.
Posted by
Whistle-Blower
on
September 22, 2014 11:01
Until Thailand moves to "upgrade" their education system to take into account the tourists that are coming to Thailand they are going to lag behind the rest of the developing world. Get on the bandwagon Army, Education is #1 to compete.
Posted by
hotgem
on
September 22, 2014 11:21
Surely you have to have some foreign guides as how many Thais speak Russian, Korean,Chinese or English for that matter. This will mean less tourists and less money for Phuket. So many businesses are dying already, look at the restaurants, bars at night. A friend who has been here for 15 years says he has never seen so many people struggling financially as now in Phuket. There are many reasons but I see the fact that foreign language speaking Thais will not be able to meet the demand only means less tourists. Carry on the with racism and be a developing not developed country as long as you want. Could you imagine a job being reserved for British in Great Britain or any citizen of their respective G20 country in a G20 country. Thais wonder why some people speak bad about them? Reserved jobs is one reason.
Posted by
Feisty Farang
on
September 22, 2014 11:29
Editor Comment:
If your friend has been here 15 years, he appears to have forgotten 2005. How could he forget the aftermath of the tsunami? Self-interest appears to be factor in the thinking of so many.
With reference to some of the reader's comments:
1) A few years back, many of my family were staying in a well known hotel in Kata - had been for years. The hotel brought in 8 new members of staff from a southern catering college for high season, for positions dealing with the general public. Hardly any of them could speak a full sentence in English - or any other foreign language. That says it all.
2) 2 months ago, I was in the company of a group of 'English' language teachers in Korat. They were bemoaning the fact that 2 of their number had gone for a visa run to Laos & weren't allowed back into Thailand. According to the group, the schools & colleges which employed them won't provide work permits for most of them, which made them illegally employed. How can that be when some of the schools they named were fee paying?
Posted by
Logic
on
September 22, 2014 12:46
ED: all u needed to say was " allegedly corrupt" Khun Tom and nuf said. I thought that you had enough of your eulogizing and motherly lectures? I know that most of here as PW readers and contributors have. Give it a rest for gods sakes. Who asked for your opinion about MY opinion anyway? a simple editorial comment would suffice.
Tom
Posted by
Tom
on
September 22, 2014 12:47
Editor Comment:
Opinions based on fiction and mindsets based on ignorance are not useful. It's time some of readers who should know better actually got better, Tom.
What's the point in this. The Thai 'sitting guides' get paid for their job, and others explain the tour to the tourists in a language, they can understand. Who suffers?
Posted by
Sherlock
on
September 22, 2014 13:46
I find this ludicrous that you announce this to the world.
Posted by
DG
on
September 22, 2014 14:33
Editor Comment:
You prefer to have people punished rather than warned and allowed to depart their illegal jobs in advance of arrest? How kind.
This Santi is a real genious! Has he also considered that it might become dangerous for the spy,if being detected on a tour? People going for this sleazy job better don't tell their friends
Posted by
Resident
on
September 22, 2014 17:28
This is just Xenophobia - Pathetic.
If a Thai can speak a foreign language well, they would be hired. For the main reason, no illegal paperwork because they are Thai and 2, no higher wages for a foreigner.
Posted by
Tbs
on
September 22, 2014 17:37
I said it before, I say it now and keep on saying: Russians, Koreans, Chinese, French, German etc.. all these tourists can pay up to 3,500 baht for a trip to PP Islands. It is unconceivable for that amount of money to have a Thai guide who will speak 1/10 of the language required. That's why tour companies (where Operation room Thai staff decides and hire free lance guides) need to be certain about language skills and cannot afford to lose a customer (alias representative or local travel agent) thus employing native speakers. What is the point of paying a Thai sitting guide plus a foreign guide if not because the company cannot find a Thai speaking the language ?? How is that possible that this Mr Santi cannot think further in terms of language skills required which go against the tour operator itself having to pay for 2 guides ?? The Chief Police in Pattaya got it straight away by dismissing the complain presented by local Thai guides about russian tour guides stealing their jobs. "You are not up to this job" he said, meaning they did not have russian language skills. Is that so difficult to understand for Mr Santi ?
Posted by
martin
on
September 22, 2014 18:50
Editor Comment:
I know at least one Thai guide who acquired his Russian language skills in Moscow. Trips from Phuket to Phi Phi surely do not require the ability to discuss Tolstoy and the Brothers Karamazov.
Hopeful next on the hit list will be those obnoxious aggressive farang that push the time shares and vacation clubs.I was actually threatened wilth violence last week while I my walk along beach Rd.These people need to be removed from the island.
Posted by
Derek
on
September 22, 2014 19:16
ed -" Trips from Phuket to Phi Phi surely do not require the ability to discuss Tolstoy and the Brothers Karamazov."
Completely agree but what they do require is the ability to give safety briefings before a trip starts and to warn people when they are on the trips and about to put themselves at risk. Unfortunately nearly all current Thai guides have limited language ability, probably because those Thais that are multilingual are being paid an appropriate salary for their skill set
Posted by
Richard
on
September 22, 2014 20:45
Editor Comment:
The Thai (Russian-speaking) guides appear to pass your test while the Thai (Chinese-speaking) guides fail dismally, judging by the number of drownings. Or maybe the Chinese (Chinese-speaking) guides just aren't interested. Surely the ability to warn people adequately depends more on desire than great language skills?
Your comment just shows how narrow is your mindset Mr editor for your own prejudice. How about during an emergency ? Tsunami warning ? An accident ? Oh no no, sorry Ed, those things never happen in Thailand and you would surely be the one happy to pay 3,500 baht and go for it, isn't it ?
Posted by
martin
on
September 22, 2014 20:54
Editor Comment:
Martin, in the event of an accident, an emergency or even a tsunami, it would be especially important to have a Thai speaker who could tell rescuers precisely what the problem was and what kind of assistance was needed. Pointless having someone struggling in another language who can't speak the local language. Another Tsunami? Boats at sea were perfectly safe. Let's hope the thought occurs to the people paying 3500 baht that they should ask questions first about the quality of the boat, the safety of the trip, and whether the foreign-language guides actually know emergency numbers and can speak Thai. Good of you to raise that issue, martin.
OK. I just give up. Not worth a penny talking to someone with prejudice. You might then carry on supporting the complain of Thai guides in Pattaya telling the Chief Police there that he is wrong. Interesting your point that Thais russian speaking guides are ok just because nobody dies. Really interesting....
Posted by
martin
on
September 22, 2014 22:01
Editor Comment:
You seem to be able to misinterpret in English, martin, and to make assumptions that just aren't accurate. I do hope your thinking sharpens up in other languages. It's safe to assume that the Pattaya police chief and the Russian tour businesses both speak the same language, Money.
And tourists paying 3,500 baht should not be worried about asking all those questions in advance cause I really want to hear answers like "boat is not safe - trip will be dangerous - there are no emergency number etc...". For your info, top priced excursions (and not) are valued for what they put in practice, not answering questions. I could tell you how a tour company lost an important travel agent due to thai guide failure of speaking german which of course would not matter if it was you paying 3,500. Expectations are different Mr Editor, even without Tolstoy and/or Karamazov.
Posted by
martin
on
September 22, 2014 22:39
Mr. Editor thank you very much for good joke. How many Thai guides are there on Phuket who learnt Russian in Moscow? One, two... But hundreds are needed! Not with just "turn right/turn left" language knowledge. So as I'm conserned, sure it is again just a media campaign to get a few scapegoats to appease thai guides and society. And thai guides are very happy to be "seating guides' if somobody doesn't know about that.
Posted by
Stranger
on
September 22, 2014 23:33
the point I am trying to explain is that there is a segment of the market (I would say over 2,800 baht) that, during the high season, is badly in need of guides speaking foreign languages fluently which cannot be found looking for Thais only. This is the crucial point. And, with all the due respect Mr Editor, you are doing misinformation when you seem to fail in noticing this long timed situation. Phuket Thai guides perfectly know this and myself, as a private investor in a up market local tour operator, I cannot afford to lose customers due to the lack of this. So far, despite low figures, is thanks to both sitting and foreign guides that my business is surviving and with that, the job of many Thais. I am not ashamed in saying that and I would love to have the opportunity to explain this to the Governor and Mr Santi because too much misinformation is around made by those who can 'destroy' the reputation of a tour operator by claiming they can speak the foreing language when they cannot. Unfortunately, this irresponsible behavior happens to be among some local Thai guides. The result ? They will carry on their 'disruptive job' simply by changing company after they left their mess behind. The day that I cannot rely anymore on German, French, Russian, Korean, Chinese languages by guides speaking fluently, I will close my business (low and middle market not worth to keep. Competition is huge and stiff) and many Thais will be laid off.
Posted by
martin
on
September 23, 2014 06:40
Editor Comment:
Probably what's best is a phase-out period while Thai guides are brought up to standard. There would certainly be no point in replacing people who can do the job with people who cannot do the job.
(moderated)
Posted by
marting
on
September 23, 2014 11:46
Editor Comment:
We have no intention of taking up challenges from readers who pile on criticism then expect us to do what they tell us to do, marting. I suggest you moderate your manners or go plead and complain at other news sites.
(moderated)
Posted by
martin
on
September 23, 2014 14:49
Editor Comment:
I don't have any prejudices, martin, but I do have a preference for readers who are not biased or judgemental and who understand the difference between journalism and anonymous, ill-informed opinion. It's odd that you think you can (a) tell us what to do and at the same time (b) complain about our coverage.
All this useless thai xenophobic obsession about foreign tour guides!
Thai government, please, wake up! You want quality tourists? Than you first provide quality tour guides. A tour bus with Koreans should have a Korean speaking tour guide ( thai or Korean person). A Chinese tour bus should have a Chinese speaking tourguide ( thai or Chinese). In the bus the language speaking tour guide during the drive can warn the tourists in their own language about the dangers of Phuket beaches during Monsoon season! Phuket government, wake up! Focus your energy on providing quality service, than you get quality tourists! Hunting 'illegal' guides is waist of time. Make them legal! In 2.5 months we roll into AEC, right?
Posted by
Kurt
on
October 11, 2014 11:34
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It's time they moved into the 21st century and allowed a limited number of native speaking Russians, Koreans, Chinese and Japanese to work legally as tour guides. The demographic in Phuket has changed and these new tourist go on many more tours than Europeans and need people to speak their language.
Posted by madmitch on September 22, 2014 09:01