Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul will visit Koh Phangan in Surat Thani province on 13 May 2026 to investigate foreign-owned businesses allegedly operating through Thai nominees. The move follows his visit to Phuket on 10 May, where he ordered action against influential figures, public land encroachment, and illegal business activity affecting local livelihoods.
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Government spokesperson Ratchada Thanadirek said on 11 May that the prime minister was personally monitoring the issue and viewed nominee business structures as a threat to Thailand’s economic security. She said the concern extended beyond company registration matters because the affected tourism areas generated high economic value, large-scale employment, and income for local communities.
The latest inspection comes amid increased scrutiny of foreign business operations on Koh Samui and Koh Phangan. According to the Ministry of Commerce’s Department of Business Development, authorities identified 16,811 registered legal entities across both islands, with 11,426 involving foreign investors, representing 67.97% of the total.
On Koh Phangan alone, 3,213 businesses out of 4,761 involved foreign participation, while Koh Samui recorded 8,213 foreign-linked firms out of 12,050 entities. Authorities are now investigating whether Thai nationals were being used as nominee shareholders to circumvent Thai law.
Ratchada said Anutin had instructed security agencies, local administrative officials, the Commerce Ministry and related departments to expand inspections nationwide rather than focusing solely on Phuket, Koh Samui, or Koh Phangan. She quoted the prime minister as saying that any abuse of legal loopholes allowing foreigners to take jobs or business opportunities from Thai citizens must face decisive legal action.
The government also stressed that Thailand continued to welcome legitimate and transparent foreign investment that benefited the country. However, Ratchada said the administration would not tolerate grey capital networks, nominee arrangements, or economic crime groups exploiting Thailand for illegal gain.
Officials have also appealed to the public to report suspicious activity and avoid acting as proxies for foreign operators. The government said protecting Thai occupations and business opportunities required cooperation from all sectors.
Amarin reported that the investigation follows recent operations targeting illegal foreign-run businesses on Koh Phangan, including raids on three allegedly unlawful hotels linked to nominee structures. Concerns have also been raised by political groups about foreign communities operating on the island and the wider impact on local economic stability.
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Adapted by ASEAN Now Amarin 12 May 2026
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