Thailand is stepping up its crackdown on foreign-operated tourism businesses suspected of using Thai nationals as illegal nominees, with authorities identifying 33 high-risk firms across five key tourism provinces. The government is also expanding the use of artificial intelligence (AI) and information technology to detect suspicious business structures, while four tour operators have already lost their licences following investigations.
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The Department of Business Development (DBD), under the Commerce Ministry, is working with the Department of Tourism to tighten enforcement against nominee arrangements that allow foreigners to illegally operate tourism-related businesses. According to DBD Director-General Poonpong Naiyanapakorn, both agencies have reviewed existing procedures to better address increasingly sophisticated methods used to conceal nominee operations.
The review focuses on three main areas. First, authorities will strengthen scrutiny of company registrations, particularly where Thai nationals appear as directors of an unusually large number of companies. Officials also propose assessing applicants’ educational background, occupation, financial status, income records and personal income tax payments over the previous three years. The Department of Tourism may also introduce interviews before granting tour business licences, with the same checks applying when directors or shareholders change.
Secondly, the agencies will link the Department of Tourism’s tour business licence database with the DBD’s company registration system through a real-time online platform. The system will include automatic alerts to help authorities quickly identify changes in company ownership or management that may indicate nominee activity.
Thirdly, authorities will establish a database of shops and businesses linked to tour operators. This information will be shared with the Revenue Department and the Anti-Money Laundering Office to help identify businesses suspected of tax evasion, money laundering or foreign groups using Thai nominees to monopolise tourism-related activities.
The latest measures build on an existing memorandum of understanding signed by the DBD, the Department of Tourism, the Office of the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Tourism and Sports, the Department of Special Investigation, the Tourist Police Bureau and the Immigration Bureau. The agencies have also established a joint operations centre to receive complaints, exchange intelligence, conduct inspections and prosecute offenders.
Between January and June 2026, joint inspections were carried out in Chiang Mai, Phuket, Chon Buri, Krabi and Bangkok. Authorities identified 33 businesses considered at risk of operating through nominee structures.
Four tour operators were found to have changed directors or shareholders in ways that meant they no longer met the qualifications required under the Tourism Business and Guide Act. As a result, the registrar revoked their tour business licences. Information relating to the remaining 29 operators has been passed to the relevant agencies for further investigation, with officials pledging strict legal action where offences are confirmed.
The Nation reported that Poonpong said tackling nominee businesses requires cooperation across all sectors, noting that operators are using increasingly sophisticated methods to avoid detection during inspections. He said combining technology with closer monitoring and information sharing would make enforcement more effective.
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Adapted by ASEAN Now Nation 5 July 2026