In reply to Tyler:
> This rule prevents the nascent local guiding companies competing on price
No, it really doesn't. What 'western' guiding companies are left guiding that route charge USD$50-$110,000 because they offer a lot more service. That leaves plenty of space ($35K-65K) for local companies to operate in.
It forces local companies cutting costs too far to provide better service, as they longer have the excuse that the clients wouldn't pay enough for them to provide suitable support, and they no longer have an excuse not to pay their staff properly (or at all).
There'll still be dodgy operators and stupid clients, but each of them will have less of an excuse when things go wrong.