At a police press conference last Tuesday, TGRO executive Athipong Saengsilpa said the Tourism Department received many complaints from legal guides and tourists about illegal foreign guides working in this reserved occupation, who allegendly damage the country's image by giving coercing visitors to buy additional services and goods at inflated prices.
Some illegal guides enter Thailand as tourists and take tourists and overseas tour company at a cheaper price than legal guides quote. Some were said to he more resourceful than Thai guides in tricking tourists to pay money for things, he said, so the department dispatches officials to check tourist attractions on a regular basis.