The government is pressing ahead with a crackdown on illegal and nominee-operated hotels in Phuket, uncovering three without construction or hotel business licenses. Authorities plan to extend financial investigations and warn that any implicated public officials will face strict prosecution without exception.
On 24 Jul 2026 GMT+7, Ms. Ploytale Laksamee Sangchan, Deputy Spokesperson of the Prime Minister's Office, revealed that following directives from Prime Minister and Minister of Interior Anutin Charnvirakul, the Ministry of Interior is coordinating with relevant agencies to continuously enforce social order, crack down on influential figures and foreign grey capital groups, and monitor provincial and local officials' enforcement of lawful hotel business operations, including preventing nominee ownership abuses.
Ms. Ploytale stated that Minister of State for the Interior Polpeer Suwannachawi led an operation involving the Department of Provincial Administration and related agencies to inspect and seize three targeted hotels in Phuket with 200, 240, and 45 rooms. All lacked construction and hotel business licenses. Notably, the first two had permits for residences or condominiums but operated as hotels. Online booking trials showed a marketing focus on European and foreign customers, with no Thai guests found. In-depth checks revealed irregularities using nominee structures to evade laws, with foreigners holding 49% shares and Thais 51%. Some properties were owned by Thais but leased to Chinese operators running unlicensed businesses.
"The Department of Provincial Administration of the Ministry of Interior has coordinated with the Royal Thai Police, Ministry of Commerce, and the Department of Special Investigation (DSI) to expand investigations into foreign hotel networks, despite their legally mandated shareholding structure. They will conduct thorough financial trail examinations. Any public officials found involved will face uncompromising prosecution. Officials are urged to work with integrity and lawfulness, following the Prime Minister's policy to 'name and act on behaviors.' Offenders will be arrested. The government will not allow nominee capitalists, scam gangs, or grey businesses to exploit lawful Thai entrepreneurs any longer."