Five hotels in Phuket have been ordered to suspend operations after failing to secure licences and complete required improvements, provincial authorities said.
The closures were imposed after operators did not make the necessary changes despite being given extra time, Deputy Phuket Governor Romdon Haji Awae said on Saturday 26 September 2026.
The action follows a provincial review of hotels operating without licences or with structural issues. Authorities had allowed affected properties 30 days to correct physical deficiencies.
Separate review for 40 other hotels
A further 40 hotels are being considered for licence renewals, but these properties are on separate regulatory tracks from the five ordered to suspend operations.
Some of those hotels have yet to submit important documents, including environmental impact assessment reports and structural safety certificates, Mr Romdon said.
The hotels under renewal consideration have different deadlines, with the province expecting operators to provide the outstanding paperwork by October.
The five closures were not linked simply to missing renewal documents. According to the deputy governor, they followed failures to obtain licences and meet the improvement requirements set by authorities.
The report did not identify the five hotels by name. Visitors whose accommodation is affected by a suspension should contact their booking platform, travel insurer or hotel operator about alternative arrangements and refund options.
Documents due by October
The next immediate deadline concerns the 40 hotels whose licence renewals remain under review. Provincial authorities expect the missing documents to be submitted by October.
Their cases will be assessed separately from the five properties already told to halt operations.
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28 September 2026
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