In light of the recent resolution allowing Chinese travellers to enter without visa prerequisites, the Tourism Department is expressing apprehension around potential risks involving illegal tours and unauthorized tour guides. The root of this distress lies in the department’s incapacity to authenticate the legitimacy of tour operators during visa exemptions.
Head of the Tourism Department, Jaturon Phakdeewanit, brought this issue into light following the acceptance of the exemption plan by the Minister for Tourism and Sports, Sudawan Wangsuphakijkosol. This plan allows Chinese and Kazakh tourists to explore without visa from September 25 till February 29, 2024.
In an attempt to ensure streamlined communication in the tourism sector, the Tourism Department, the Consular Affairs Department, and the Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) came together earlier this month. They signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) related to synchronizing inbound tourist data. As a result, the Consular Affairs Department was able to accelerate visa approvals for Chinese tour groups. This was thanks to information about legal tour companies, job orders, and tour itineraries which were kept in the Tourism Department’s system for safety purposes.
In collaboration with over 300 Chinese outbound companies, numerous inbound companies are registered with the Tourism Department. However, this unified system is set to take a pause during the visa exemption period. This is because there will be no need for checking tour companies for visas during this time, as shared by Jaturon, Bangkok Post reports.
In reaction to this situation, the Tourism Department along with the Provincial Tourism and Sports Office is venturing into random check-ups of tour groups at frequented tourist spots. Jaturon added that these groups are still necessitated to submit a job order. He said, “We will examine whether they are a legal tour company, employ authorized tour guides and implement a tourism programme as reported in their job orders.”
Jaturon also added that the possibility of conducting inspections while tourists travel across Thailand, instead of pre-entry screenings, still stands. The authorities are determined in their efforts to identify and act against unlawful foreign tour guides, taking the Tourism Business and Guide Act as their guideline.
According to the Immigration Act, only Thai nationals are eligible to lead as tour guides, and any illegal foreign tour guides may face deportation.
Aligning with their strategy for the first 100 days, the Tourism Department aims to sign an additional MoU with five organizations to eliminate nominee tour businesses. This group includes the Office of the Permanent Secretary of the Tourism Ministry, the Tourist Police, the Department of Business Development, the Department of Special Investigation (DSI), and the Immigration Bureau.
The DSI, for instance, will have the authority to investigate tour companies’ financial dealings, with a key focus on revenue streams diverting towards foreigners instead of Thai owners.
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