A group of local tour guides in Chiang Rai have strongly opposed to moves by the Tourism and Sports Ministry to register illegal foreign guides.
About 30 registered tour guides converged on the King Mengrai Great Memorial in Muang district on Friday to express their opposition to the ministry’s intention.
Natpatchamon Sripitaksakul, chairwoman of the Chiang Rai tour guide association, said the registration of illegal foreign guides to enable them to work legally in the country would affect local tour guides, Post Today reported on Friday.
There were about 59,200 registered tour guides across the country, she said. About 1,400 tour guides in Chiang Rai and Phayao were members of the association.
The association urged authorities to review the registration plan. Representatives of the tour guides later handed their letter of opposition to an official at Chiang Rai tourism and sports office, to forward to the ministry, before dispersing.