Hundreds of Phuket hotels operate with no licences | Bangkok Post: business

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Hundreds of Phuket hotels operate with no licences

PHUKET : Hundreds of hotels in Phuket are operating without licences, claiming the cost of getting one is far too high.

Officials have set up a working group to close the unlicensed establishments, deputy governor Niwit Arunrat said yesterday.

Government figures show that Phuket has 702 hotels with 42,684 rooms _ but only 273 of these hotels are licensed.

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Writer: Achadtaya Chuenniran
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Your comments

  • Discussion 5 : 16/09/2010 at 05:41 PM5

    By the figures quoted we are to assume that not only do they not comply with the required license, but do not meet environmental requirements such as waste disposal, water treatment, HVAC, and health standards in general.
    It has been common knowledge that "raw sewage," is pumped directly into the surrounding bays of not only Patong, but Chiang Talay, Karan, Kata etc. by all or most all of those surrounding resorts and businesses. Tourists and locals continue to swim daily in these polluted waters.
    Hotel license, small concern when the ocean and land water supply is growing ever more dangerous to both fish and human. BTW, don't eat the fish, crabs, shell fish or shrimp.

  • falangsur

    Discussion 4 : 12/09/2010 at 01:16 AM4

    So less than half of the hotels have licenses? How on earth does the Thai government expect to collect revenue, protect the environment, ensure safety of domestic and international tourists, or perform other basic duties? Disgraceful.....

  • Albert Park

    Discussion 3 : 10/09/2010 at 10:51 PM3

    Democrat Party heartland, right?

  • Somboon

    Discussion 2 : 10/09/2010 at 06:05 AM2

    Yes, Phuket is rampant with corruption. We were there in 1976, '85, '87, 2004, and 2007. A Thai taxi driver, who talked Southern dialect with me, showed us the home of a Phuket politician-a giant house on a cliff overlooking the Andaman Sea.

    Both him and I asked: How could he/she afford such a house with their salaries???

  • Aussie John

    Discussion 1 : 10/09/2010 at 05:00 AM1

    Phuket is a microcosm of what exists throughout the whole country. Millions of businesses are unregulated and avoid paying tax. Its Thai style as double standards for doing business run from the very top to the bottom. You just have to look at the Taxi mafia that controls Phuket as a classic example of how Thai businesses follow rules and regulations.

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