Singapore may impose tougher penalties on unlicensed tourist guides

SINGAPORE, Nov. 22 (Xinhua) — Singapore tourist authorities have proposed changes to the law to allow enforcement officers the power to question and detain suspected unlicensed tourist guides, the Ministry of Trade and Industry and the Tourism Board said on Friday.

Those who do not cooperate with the officers, can even be hauled to the police station.

It is illegal under Singapore law to work as a tourist guide without a license. Local media said that the unlicensed tourist guides are mostly foreigners accompanying tour groups from overseas and work pass holders who take on freelance guiding jobs without the requisite license to be tour guides.

Local daily Straits Times said they “frequently give wrong information to tourists and take away business from those who have valid licenses.”

Under the proposed changes to the law, offenders may also face harsher penalties, with plans to double the maximum fine to 10,000 Singapore dollars (8,000 U.S. dollars).

The proposals come after a year-long review by the Ministry of Trade and Industry and the Singapore Tourism Board.

The ministry said that proposed legislative changes are part of the government’s ongoing efforts to raise the quality of tourist guides. There are also possible plans for more training and to raise the professionalism among licensed tourist guides.

Tourist guides are “a key touch point for many tourists” and are important in promoting Singapore as a choice destination, said Second Minister for Trade and Industry S. Iswaran.

Singapore may impose tougher penalties on unlicensed tourist guides