Supamas has ordered the Office of the Consumer Protection Board (OCPB) to establish a special complaint center for the Sunday JA Plus Hotel fire incident in Pattaya, speeding up on-site tourist care and fully protecting rights and compensation.
On 22 May 2026, Ms. Supamas Isarapakdi, Minister attached to the Prime Minister's Office and supervisor of the Office of the Consumer Protection Board (OCPB), ordered the OCPB to urgently open a special complaint center in Pattaya city to protect consumer rights following the fire at Sunday JA Plus Hotel on Pattaya Third Road, Nong Prue Subdistrict, Bang Lamung District, Chonburi Province, on the night of 21 May 2026. Many Thai and foreign tourists were trapped inside the building, with four injured—three guests and one hotel employee. She assigned Mr. Ronarong Phoolpipat, Secretary-General of the Consumer Protection Board, to oversee the operations.
This directive follows government measures emphasized by Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul, urging all agencies to enhance tourist safety in key destinations nationwide. The OCPB is collaborating with the Ministry of Tourism and Sports, Department of Public Works and Town & Country Planning, Office of Insurance Commission (OIC), Pattaya City, and the Consumer Organizations Council as representatives of civil society to provide seamless support to those affected.
Most recently, Mr. Ronarong Phoolpipat, Secretary-General of the Consumer Protection Board, assigned the Regional and Local Consumer Protection Division, together with Consumer Protection Office Region 2, the Subcommittee on Consumer Protection in Chonburi Province, and the Chonburi Damrongtham Center, to conduct on-site fact-finding and swiftly arrange consumer compensation measures. Care is divided into two groups: 1. Injured guests receiving hospital treatment, for whom the hotel accepts responsibility for medical expenses and compensation; 2. Guests who booked rooms after the incident and feel unsafe, who will receive full refunds. The hotel has evacuated all 240 guests to nearby accommodations. The fire's cause is under investigation by Forensic Center 2.
"I express my concern for the injured and all affected tourists. Hotel guests are 'consumers' under the Consumer Protection Act B.E. 2522 (1979), Section 4, entitled to safety and compensation. Therefore, I ordered the OCPB to immediately set up a special complaint center on-site so affected guests can file complaints and receive care without traveling far or waiting long," Supamas said.
Supamas added that the local special complaint center will receive complaints from all guests, investigate facts, gather data on damages to life, body, and property, and coordinate with operators to negotiate compensation. Officials will also advise foreign tourists on their consumer rights. If negotiations fail and consumers do not receive appropriate compensation, the OCPB is ready to exercise its authority under Section 39 of the Consumer Protection Act B.E. 2522 to take legal action on behalf of consumers at no cost to them.
"I thank the operators who have responsibly cared for consumers from the start, including assisting the injured, refunding guests, and evacuating residents to safe accommodations. I also remind all hotel and accommodation operators nationwide that consumer safety is a legal duty. Fire prevention systems, escape routes, and employee drills must always be ready. I also thank the Ministry of Tourism and Sports under Minister Surasak Phanjaroenworakul, Pattaya City, OIC, the Consumer Organizations Council, and all local agencies that have mobilized full support for those affected," she said.
Consumers affected by this incident can file complaints at the special complaint center in Pattaya city or contact the OCPB hotline at 1166, the OCPB Connect app, the website ocpb.go.th, or Damrongtham Centers nationwide.