Piyaporn Somjaiwong. An analytical study of ethics in the tourist guide profession in Thailand : a case study of the professional tourist guides' code of ethics . Master's Degree(Ethical Studies). Mahidol University. : Mahidol University, 2003.
An analytical study of ethics in the tourist guide profession in Thailand : a case study of the professional tourist guides' code of ethics
Abstract:
This research is the qualitative research to study the tourist guide performance and ethical
problems based on the ethical code of the Professional Tourist Guide Association of Thailand by
conducting in-depth interviews of the tourist guides, travel agency officers and tourism
organization officers.
The study has indicated five improper behaviors of the tourist guides: 1) forcing tourists
to accept and purchase some optional tourist program beside the original one, 2) taking tourists to
some shops which cheat or set higher prices than the qualities of the goods so that they receive
some commission, 3) requesting for some tips by asking for some sympathy that the trip has no
benefit, 4) discriminating against some tourists in rendering their service, 5) abandoning their
own responsibilities.
The above behaviors are ethical problems since they oppose the ethical code of tourist
guides and the roles and obligations of tourist guides. The way to solve the problem is to develop
concerning organizations.
To effectively solve the ethical problems of tourist guides, it is suggested that the tourist
guides realize how important they are and thus be in line with the code of ethics. Travel agencies
and the Tourism Authority Thailand should have strong regulations to control tourist guides’
behaviors and should let them have a chance to control each other.