KOH PHANGAN — Thai tourist police have taken legal action against a German man operating an unauthorized tour guide business on Koh Phangan island, along with a Myanmar national he allegedly hired as an illegal guide.
Officers from Koh Phangan tourist police, led by Pol. Lt. Col. Winit Boonchit, investigated public complaints about foreigners illegally working as tour guides using unlicensed electric motorcycles, creating disturbances and road safety hazards.
On September 22, authorities arrested Mr. Pyae, a 31-year-old Myanmar national, while he was guiding two foreign tourists. He was charged with working as an unlicensed tour guide and operating without a work permit.
During the arrest, Mr. Roman, a 33-year-old German national, arrived at the scene and identified himself as Pyae’s employer. He admitted to hiring the Myanmar man as a tour guide, paying daily wages plus tips, and operating a tourism company called “Dirt E-Bike Co., Ltd.” for six months. The company advertised online and charged 2,000 baht per person per hour.
Document checks revealed the company’s headquarters were on Koh Samui, but no branch permit had been obtained for Koh Phangan operations. Roman faces additional charges for working beyond his permitted scope and employing a foreigner without proper authorization.
Police also filed complaints against Dirt E-Bike Co., Ltd. directors for “operating tourism business without branch license.”
Both suspects were transferred to Koh Phangan Police Station for prosecution. Authorities seized electric motorcycles and equipment worth millions of baht.
Pol. Lt. Col. Winit emphasized that tour guide work is reserved exclusively for Thai nationals, urging all tourism operators—both Thai and foreign—to strictly comply with the law, warning of decisive legal action against violators.
This arrest follows a September 10 petition to new Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul from the Professional Tour Guide Association of Thailand, highlighting four urgent issues including foreigners encroaching on Thai jobs and expanding into comprehensive tourism businesses, damaging Thai enterprises. The guide profession association requested stricter enforcement of relevant laws.
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