Phuket Tourism Association denies reports only legally married foreigners and Thais can share hotel rooms

[webfact]

File photo for reference only//REUTERS Jorge Silva

 

Phuket Tourism Association on Friday moved quickly to dispel  reports that foreigners staying in Phuket as part of the ‘Sandbox’ project would need to be legally married if they wanted to share a bedroom with a Thai national. 

 

Earlier, Thai media had reported that hotels in Phuket under the SHA+ scheme will not allow foreigners who are not legally married to their wives to stay together.

 

You must have "jot thabian" or legally registered your marriage to be allowed in the same room. 

 

This could affect many people who have married in villages according to Buddhist traditions but whose marriages are not legally registered, notes Thaivisa. 

 

The media went further quoting Bhummikiit Raktaengam, the head of the Phuket tourism business association who was speaking on behalf of the hotels. 

 

"If foreigners arrive with a girlfriend, lover, sex partner they will not be permitted to stay together. 

 

However, according to a statement, the association’s president, Khun Bhummikiit Ruktaengam, had been misinterpreted during an interview with Thai media. 

 

The statement said: “in order to avoid any misunderstandings or confusion with this regard, all parties are requested to await an announcement in the Royal Gazette respectively". 

 

*post updated to include statement  from Phuket Tourism Association

 

 

 

-- © Copyright Thai Visa News 2021-06-25

 

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[keith101]

So all those single men looking to go there for a bit of fun should now cancel LOL TIT .

Maybe a booming business for any short time places for those unable to cancel their trip .

[grandpa]

  On 6/25/2021 at 3:21 AM, webfact said:

If foreigners arrive with a girlfriend, lover, sex partner they will not be permitted to stay together. 

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Only 6 days away from zero hour and they are introducing even more silly rules!  No-one that I know of carries their marriage certificate around with them!  And what right has anybody to deny partners who may have cohabited for many years their right to share a room!  Thailand gets madder every day!

 

[smedly]

  On 6/25/2021 at 3:21 AM, webfact said:

Only those that came together to Phuket would be allowed to be together in a room, he said. 

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oh dear

[WineOh]

dear lord.

 

Those in charge haven't got a bleedin clue!

[Deli]

Can't fix stupid !

[NCC1701A]

jump up and down on one leg, pat your head and rub your stomach.

 

anything else?

 

[Scouse123]

The mind boggles at the stupidity!

[connda]

  On 6/25/2021 at 3:21 AM, webfact said:

Thai media has reported that hotels in Phuket under the SHA+ scheme will not allow foreigners who are not legally married to their wives to stay together.

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That's more likely to impact some Hi-So Somchai and his mia-noi as opposed to a farang. 

[Surelynot]

Damn.............so if we weren't legally married she would have to stay behind at home...............damn.

[clivebaxter]

What if you have a gay partner, discriminated against again as usual?

[Pottinger]

It's quarantine, Jim, but not as we know it.

[thaibeachlovers]

Will they never stop shooting themselves in the foot?

[ThaiPauly]

I dont believe this!!

 

Now the government are in denial about why people come to Thailand, and although some do come for the beaches and the temples most "single guys" are here for the sex.

 

[madmitch]

Just seen this on Twitter. I think it says that the statement is wrong but the translation is not the best so I'm not sure!

[Ventenio]

  On 6/25/2021 at 3:33 AM, grandpa said:

Only 6 days away from zero hour and they are introducing even more silly rules! 

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I'm not surprised, but I feel bad for the falang who doesn't understand how things work here.

 

All trips will be cancelled........then tomorrow it will be a "just joking.  can"  

 

then all trips booked again......then next day, "pay 1,000,000 if not your wife, fine of 400,000 if short term"

 

and in a week we will have 37329850372073 rules that will be a million pages long

[ThailandRyan]

So a village wedding won't do....hmm. will they have to have the marriage certificate from abroad in hand and even certified prior at the MFA....inquiring minds want to know. 

[BobinBKK]

WOW... This load of poop just keeps getting better every day!!! 555555

[Chelseafan]

Assuming I was psychotic and decided to go to Phuket, can I get my wife to fly from Bangkok and meet me in the hotel? The article states that partners must arrive together.

 

On a seperate note, I believe this is all an experiment to see how far they can push the human spirit to breaking point....

 

 

[Thailand]

Just when you think they have reached the ultimate in gross stupidity they manage yet again to outdo themselves.

[BobinBKK]

Considering all of these ridiculous restrictions and the way foreigners are treated in this country, I honestly hope that not only Phuket but Thailand as a whole fails. Who in there right mind wants to spend there hard earned money and earned vacation time from work to holiday in any destination that has the unmitigated gaul telling you what to do and how to do it. Vacations are supposed to be restful and stress free with plenty of unrestricted activities and all business open that makes their holiday a fun and memorable experience. Irregardless if you agree with me or not, life is short, each and everyone of us deserves much more than this! As long as you don't hurt anyone or yourself, live and enjoy life by your rules. Never let anyone dictate your life!

[edwinchester]

  On 6/25/2021 at 4:01 AM, NCC1701A said:

jump up and down on one leg, pat your head and rub your stomach.

 

anything else?

 

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You forgot the whistle and fart.

[Surelynot]

  On 6/25/2021 at 4:30 AM, madmitch said:

Just seen this on Twitter. I think it says that the statement is wrong but the translation is not the best so I'm not sure!

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"May share within the framework of Thai legislation"???.............anyone?

[Surelynot]

  On 6/25/2021 at 4:36 AM, Chelseafan said:

On a seperate note, I believe this is all an experiment to see how far they can push the human spirit to breaking point....

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5555....best comment I've seen for a while.....

[phetphet]

Doubles the price of the holiday if you have to book two rooms. One each for you and your partner.

 

If this turns out to be true, then what's the point of coming to Thailand? For Europeans, might as well head to the beaches of Spain, Portugal, Greece or one of the other mediterranean countries that are open. Shorter flight, cheaper, and less restrictions.  Weather is likely to be better than Phuket in July and August as well.

[Thomas J]

Does this exclude people who are legally married but not to the person they want to stay in the same room with? 

[ThailandRyan]

  On 6/25/2021 at 4:45 AM, Surelynot said:

"May share within the framework of Thai legislation"???.............anyone?

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Married paperwork certified by the MFA it sounds like to me....lol

[ThailandRyan]

  On 6/25/2021 at 4:54 AM, Thomas J said:

Does this exclude people who are legally married but not to the person they want to stay in the same room with? 

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Mia noi number 2?

[Surelynot]

So you couldn't share a room with your own son or a daughter?

[skatewash]

Or here's a thought, maybe the report is just wrong.  Would be the first time that's ever happened in the history of Thailand but it's possible, right?