The Tourist Police Division has called on the Commerce Ministry and the Revenue Department to inspect tourism-related businesses run by foreigners in Thailand.
File Photo
Pol Maj Gen Roy Inkapairoj, commander of the Tourist Police, said on Sunday foreigners were using Thai nominees to open businesses such as restaurants, hotels, massage shops and jewellery shops.
Relevant agencies such as the Commerce Ministry and the Revenue Department should check the stakeholders of these businesses and their tax records and see whether they are legitimate because they are "hurting the image of Thai tourism", he said.
"Tourists buy their products and services and the revenue goes to the foreign owners instead of the Thai economy," Pol Maj Gen Roy said.
He said changes to investment laws might be necessary to suppress the nominee companies.
"Many foreign investors who run nominee companies here are from Russia, India and China and the number is increasing," he said.