Authorities raid illegal hostel in Ko Samui

[rooster59]

Authorities raid illegal hostel in Ko Samui

 

 

A combined force of military and police in Surat Thani province began regulating hostel operators on Koh Samui on Saturday (Feb 24).

 

The operation followed the Fourth Army chief Lt Gen Piyawat Nakwanich’s recent visit to Surat Thani province earlier this month and instructed authorities to crackdown on illegal business operators at the three tourists islands–Ko Samui, Ko Phangan, and Ko Tao.

 

Lodging business operators have complained that the cheap and unregistered hostels have gravely impacted their business.

 

Full story: http://englishnews.thaipbs.or.th/authorities-raid-illegal-hostel-ko-samui/

 

 

-- © Copyright Thai PBS 2018-02-24

[BigBadGeordie]

And those in power continue to protect their cohorts.

[impulse]

12 hours ago, BigBadGeordie said:

And those in power continue to protect their cohorts.

 

It's always hard to tell if it's cronyism, or a legitimate crackdown. 

 

But if they're shutting down illegal places that don't have proper facilities and don't pay hotel taxes that are imposed to pay for services that maintain the resource, I'm all in favor.  Especially if those places compete unfairly with the registered hotels that do treat their wastewater and do pay into the coffers to maintain the roads, dispose of the trash, and the clean up the beaches. 

 

(What happens to that money, and whether the registered hotels actually do have safer facilities and waste treatment are other topics for other threads)

[BigBadGeordie]

1 hour ago, impulse said:

 

It's always hard to tell if it's cronyism, or a legitimate crackdown. 

 

But if they're shutting down illegal places that don't have proper facilities and don't pay hotel taxes that are imposed to pay for services that maintain the resource, I'm all in favor.  Especially if those places compete unfairly with the registered hotels that do treat their wastewater and do pay into the coffers to maintain the roads, dispose of the trash, and the clean up the beaches. 

 

(What happens to that money, and whether the registered hotels actually do have safer facilities and waste treatment are other topics for other threads)

Good points, well made.

 

Totally agree with you.

[PoorSucker]

Number of hostels in Chaweng has increased dramatically during last two years. 

 

A quick Internet search reveals 18 in Chaweng alone, most of them in three storage shop houses. 

No fire escapes on second and third floors. 

 

[webfact]

Crackdown on unlicensed hostels on tourist islands

By The Nation

 

FILE photo

 

A combined force of military and police in Surat Thani province began regulating hostel operators on Koh Samui on Saturday.

 

The operation followed the Fourth Army chief Lt-General Piyawat Nakwanich’s visit to Surat Thani province earlier this month, when he instructed authorities to crack down on illegal business operators on the three tourists islands of Koh Samui, Koh Phangan, and Koh Tao.

 

Hospitality industry operators have complained that cheap and unregistered hostels have gravely impacted their businesses. Security officers also pointed out that cheap and illegal hostels had lax measures to keep records of their guests, posing security risks.

 

Authorities yesterday raided US Hostel on Soi Sunday in Tambon Bophut, which has 30 rooms with each room having bunk beds for 6-8 people.

 

The hostel’s room rates are between Bt350 and Bt1,000 per day.

 

Checks by officials found that the hostel does not have a licence to operate hotel business.

 

The hostel owner, Areerak Luangvicharoen, was charged of operating a hotel business without permission. Authorities said they would continue to raid other unlicensed hostels in the area.

 

Source: http://www.nationmultimedia.com/detail/breakingnews/30339638

 

-- © Copyright The Nation 2018-02-26

 

[1337markus]

Owner's name is a good Anglo Saxon name didnt know aliens could run hostels?

[Lupatria]

Give him another chance, he respects the law. He applied for and received a valid dart license.

[Get Real]

That´s good! I am all for it. Time for everyone to start following the set of rules, regulations and laws set up.

[hobobo]

1 hour ago, 1337markus said:

Owner's name is a good Anglo Saxon name didnt know aliens could run hostels?

Where in the article does it say that the owner is "an alien" ?

 

[toofarnorth]

I want to hear how things develop on Koh Tao .  If they have the nerve to investigate.

[sscsamui]

It would be nice to see them do something about the mafia taxis

[NoshowJones]

Another 24 hour crackdown no doubt, just like motorbikes riding on Bangkoks sidewalks etc, etc, etc, etc,etc.

Edited February 26, 2018 by possum1931

[NoshowJones]

4 minutes ago, sscsamui said:

It would be nice to see them do something about the mafia taxis

Yes, another 24 hour crackdown, again.

Edited February 26, 2018 by possum1931

[ronaldo0]

I lived there for 9 years in that street and the only place I can think of this being is a huge backpacker type place that was constructed out of shipping containers. But it certainly isn't cheap looking by any means .

 

[brain150]

 

4 hours ago, Get Real said:

That´s good! I am all for it. Time for everyone to start following the set of rules, regulations and laws set up.

Yes ... let's all follow the rules no matter how stupid or useless they are !!!

Slaves need to follow orders no matter what !

 

The Government is making more and more useless licenses and regulations nobody actually needs.

Usually [as a lesson from history] this leads to the destruction of the economy. It always did and always will.

Governments cannot run economies !!!

 

Whoever thinks these "crackdowns" are any good, might want to learn something about history and

economics. These kinds of actions always fail. The only thing that happens is that people get scared

of the government where in fact it should be the other way around.

 

Free people don't need licenses because they have no master ! Slaves do !!!

[Deli]

The biggest security risk sits in Bangkok...

[InMyShadow]

double

Edited February 26, 2018 by InMyShadow

[InMyShadow]

same

Edited February 26, 2018 by InMyShadow

[InMyShadow]

Good work JUNTA!  illegal structures right across thailand being closed or ripped down.

 

Cry baby expats are seeing the 3rd world lawlessness they have grown to know and love now disappearing before there very( bloodshot) eyes

[huberthammer]

18 hours ago, ronaldo0 said:

I lived there for 9 years in that street and the only place I can think of this being is a huge backpacker type place that was constructed out of shipping containers. But it certainly isn't cheap looking by any means .

 

yes that is the one. From the outside the place looks very professionally run and with somebody behind it who understands the business. Last place I would have thought to operate illegally. I still have a lot to learn...

[pieeyed]

Big crack down. Bust one 30 room hostel. I am sure their are people with multi billion properties that are on illegal land.

[observer90210]

On the first hand how can people in a foreign country, open and operate a business (hotel etc.) and expect to get away without the proper authorisations, permits etc ?...It's just astounding how some consider themselves as untouchable !