Phuket tourism businesses must be legal by end of January or else
Eakkapop Thongtub



PHUKET: -- Phuket officials have sent a warning to tourism businesses across the island: be legal by the end of January or pay hefty fineswith possible jail time.

The sentiment was echoed by officials of all levels of Phuket government during a meeting yesterday (Jan 14) at Provincial Hall, which wasset for lawmakers to follow-up on policy concerning safety issues at tourist operations across the island. Phuket Vice Governor Dr Prajiad Aksornthammakul presided over the meeting, which included discussion of plans to clean-up the local tourism industry, especially animal shows, in a way that would help promote a positive and safe image of the island.

Officials say that about 45 tourism businesses operate illegally out of the roughly 80 man-made adventure businesses in Phuket – which include elephant farms/trekking, ATV attractions, animal shows, shooting ranges, go-kart racing and other adventure parks – that still need to be inspected.

V/G Prajiad told The Phuket News that more than 10 of those business operators include animals in their shows and that they will get a visit from officials from the Phuket Provincial Livestock Office to ensure that they follow international safety standards.

After January, officials will inspect all businesses to check if they follow the law. Penalties for all tour businesses that fail to register will be jail time for up to two years or a fine of B500,000, said Santi Pawai , Director of Ministry of Tourism and Sports Phuket Office.

Meanwhile, tourism businesses that include animals will be fined up to B200,000 if they fail to obtain the proper permits, said Phuket City Deputy Superintendent, Lt Col Saman Chainarong.

Full Story: http://www.thephuketnews.com/phuket-tourism-businesses-must-be-legal-by-end-of-january-or-else-55799.php

-- Phuket News 2016-01-15

And there you have it "a positive and safe image of the island".

Appearance over substance.

"Phuket officials have sent a warning to tourism businesses across the island: be legal by the end of January or pay hefty fines with possible jail time."

Key word "or,possible"

And most of these businesses illegal for years. One incident and as always ............

Safety, and Thailand ?

Add this to the other madcap adhoc crackdowns. And toothless deadlines.

Are the illegal businesses still operating on Surin beach?

as the jetski trade should have been stopped years ago, start with them

Whew! That settles that, then! Great!

or else: they will continue as before.

what is a legal business? how would a customer / tourist know?

The owners of the 90,000 illegal rooms are clamoring at the local orbotor to register their rooms. I know it, 'cause I saw it. Oh wait, that was the kaotom shop. Sorry.

And there you have it "a positive and safe image of the island".

Appearance over substance.

Well said! And, there is a big difference between legal and scam-free, safe, user-friendly. When the latter is achieved, then it will be worth talking about. Until then, it's all just more hot air.

And there you have it "a positive and safe image of the island".

Appearance over substance.

Great stuff, can be fined up to???

Or else another year to sort it

Let me translate the title. "All Tourist Businesses who are not paying Tea Money to the Right People can expect a raise in unofficial fees, with several small operators to be made examples of--or else."

Let me translate the title. "All Tourist Businesses who are not paying Tea Money to the Right People can expect a raise in unofficial fees, with several small operators to be made examples of--or else."

Nonsense, it is easy to be legal and avoid paying anything. Only businesses operating illegally are paying tea money.

Let me translate the title. "All Tourist Businesses who are not paying Tea Money to the Right People can expect a raise in unofficial fees, with several small operators to be made examples of--or else."

Nonsense, it is easy to be legal and avoid paying anything. Only businesses operating illegally are paying tea money.

So long as your legal business does not succumb to the many scams - like music license scam, fake police shakedown, etc, etc - as a business manager we have had our fair share of shakedowns, which we never paid as we are a legal business.

Let me translate the title. "All Tourist Businesses who are not paying Tea Money to the Right People can expect a raise in unofficial fees, with several small operators to be made examples of--or else."

Nonsense, it is easy to be legal and avoid paying anything. Only businesses operating illegally are paying tea money.

So long as your legal business does not succumb to the many scams - like music license scam, fake police shakedown, etc, etc - as a business manager we have had our fair share of shakedowns, which we never paid as we are a legal business.

As you said, you mever paid because you are legal.

Plus the scams you mention don't really apply to the tourism businesses they're talking about in this article.

As you said, you mever paid because you are legal.

Plus the scams you mention don't really apply to the tourism businesses they're talking about in this article.

Are you kidding Steven. What about the police shakedowns on dive instructors with WP at Chalong pier.

As you said, you mever paid because you are legal.

Plus the scams you mention don't really apply to the tourism businesses they're talking about in this article.

Are you kidding Steven. What about the police shakedowns on dive instructors with WP at Chalong pier.

There was just one in Krabi for Phuket dive instructors. They arrested 7, and guess what? At least 5 of them had visa/passport issues, and only one of them was fully legal. So I feel sorry for the one guy who got caught in this, but they all should have known better. There is in all these cases more to it than meets the eye.

At the end of January, when ALL of these tourism businesses become legal, what will they say when the next tourist dies at one of them?

The question may well be asked, how did they become "legal" with safety standards so poor a tourist as been killed?

does that include the taxi's? Who will be held responsible for that? The governor that refuses to take any action against them?

Dream on.

My Mom use to say something like that: "Conner Aiden Mothersbraugh! Don't ever do that again OR ELSE!!! <if she uses your full name, you know you're in trouble...not>

"Ok Mom. I promise I'll never do it again <Dream on>."

OR, by the end of April or, by the end of June or.or,or .