Illegal Russian tour guide arrested in Thailand

The arrest came after police received a tip-off from locals that a foreign man acting as a tour guide was leading a group of 11 Russian tourists to visit the Big Buddha and Wat Chalong Temple in Phuket, Phuket News reported.

Police officers took the man into custody.

According to the police, the Russian came to Thailand as a tourist. Prior to his arrest, he had made visa runs to Malaysia to renew his visa so he could stay in Thailand.

The illegal tour guide was released on bail and is now awaiting trial.

According to Thailand’s Ministry of Labor, the law prohibits foreigners from working as tour guides and from bringing foreign tourists, whether individually or in groups, to travel to various locations in the country. Foreigners are also prohibited from providing advice and information to tourists in Thailand.

Thailand, which is granting 45-day stays for tourists from Russia in an effort to revive its long-furloughed tourism industry, has received an influx of Russian visitors in recent months.