Hotels and Restaurants Still Face Foreign Business Restrictions

Thailand Rejects Claims Hotels and Restaurants Were Freed From Foreign Business Restrictions

Thailand’s Commerce Ministry has dismissed online claims that foreigners can now operate hotels, restaurants and tourism businesses without licences under a new regulation. Officials said the recently approved exemption covers eight specific service categories and does not include hotels, restaurants, tour operators, souvenir shops, sports businesses or language schools. Many of the exempted activities are already supervised by agencies such as the Bank of Thailand, NBTC and Securities and Exchange Commission. Other exemptions apply narrowly to services between affiliated companies, workplace facilities and specialised petroleum drilling operations. The ministry said the changes are intended to eliminate duplicate licensing requirements rather than broadly open protected Thai industries to unrestricted foreign ownership.