A German captain was arrested aboard a luxury sailing yacht in Phuket, accused of running an illegal tour operation in the Andaman Sea. Authorities discovered high-priced multi-day packages had been sold to foreign tourists without a license. The arrest, made on March 12, 2026, followed a five-month investigation involving marine police and tourism authorities.
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The operation allegedly used a yacht charter company as a front, targeting German travelers through an online platform. The yacht was inspected and found carrying six German tourists, who had booked an 11-day tour via a website. The company claimed to be a yacht rental business but was accused of running unlicensed tours instead.
Tourists paid hundreds of thousands of baht each for the trip, unaware the company lacked a tourism business license. The captain faces charges under the Tourism Business and Guide Act of 2008 and the Navigation in Thai Waters Act of 1992. The broader investigation revealed similar operations using nominee shareholders to disguise unlicensed tour businesses.
Authorities are continuing their investigation to identify and prosecute other operators involved in illegal tourism practices, which they say undermine legal Thai businesses. The Department of Tourism emphasized the crackdown aims to protect both Thailand’s tourism image and visitor safety. Moving forward, the focus will be on ensuring compliance with marine tourism regulations, reported The Nation.
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Adapted by ASEAN Now · The Nation · 13 Mar 2026