webfact Posted September 28, 2016 Share Posted September 28, 2016 Crackdown looms as 60% of Pattaya hotels deemed illegal By Jetsada Homklin Anawat Burapachon, a civil engineer with the Department of Public Works and Town & Country Planning and the Interior Ministry. PATTAYA: -- About 60 percent of Pattaya’s hotels and guesthouses are operating illegally, with government officials about to launch a crackdown to either bring them into compliance or shut them down. Speaking at the Sept. 14 Pattaya Business & Tourism Association meeting at the Grand Sole Hotel, President Sinchai Wattanasartsathorn estimated only 40 percent of Pattaya’s approximately 2,600 accommodations providers are legally registered and meet standards for safety and hospitality. The Cabinet on Aug. 19 enacted new rules requiring illegal hotels nationwide to meet legal registration requirements within five years or be closed. Sinchai said the PBTA will now work with law enforcement and city officials to begin inspecting all lodging providers and ensure they are legally registered. Anawat Burapachon, a civil engineer with the Department of Public Works and Town & Country Planning and the Interior Ministry, told the PBTA that, historically, the cost and strictness of legal hotel building codes and licensing was too high for some entrepreneurs. But rather than find another business venture, many entrepreneurs simply ignored the law and opened anyway. Full story: http://www.pattayamail.com/news/crackdown-looms-60-pattaya-hotels-deemed-illegal-149511 -- Pattaya Mail 2016-09-28 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
carstenp Posted September 28, 2016 Share Posted September 28, 2016 (edited) For me i sounds more and more, there is to few tourist money in the game down there, and the big players want more of the cake. There was no problem for years but suddenly when the big players got hurt, they have to make a crackdown Edited September 28, 2016 by carstenp Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
craigt3365 Posted September 28, 2016 Share Posted September 28, 2016 34 minutes ago, carstenp said: For me i sounds more and more, there is to few tourist money in the game down there, and the big players want more of the cake. There was no problem for years but suddenly when the big players got hurt, they have to make a crackdown Or, the government would like these illegal hotels to pay taxes rather than the police with brown envelopes? Also could be in response to China's meeting asking for better safety for their record number of tourists?? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
OMGImInPattaya Posted September 28, 2016 Share Posted September 28, 2016 Is it too much for these illegal operators to pay for a business/hotel license, pay appropriate business taxes, and maybe even comply with a few rudimentary safety standards? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
craigt3365 Posted September 28, 2016 Share Posted September 28, 2016 4 minutes ago, OMGImInPattaya said: Is it too much for these illegal operators to pay for a business/hotel license, pay appropriate business taxes, and maybe even comply with a few rudimentary safety standards? Especially with the prices they are now charging! As much as I pay for hotels in Europe! LOL Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RedQualia Posted September 28, 2016 Share Posted September 28, 2016 I assume this is the work of the Thai Hotel Association. Get rid of the smaller, cheaper hotels in any way possible. To the extent that's done, they can raise the rates. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tifino Posted September 28, 2016 Share Posted September 28, 2016 Brother-In-Law effect - Rules OK!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Basil B Posted September 28, 2016 Share Posted September 28, 2016 It is nearly 20 years since the Royal Jomtien hotel fire, and only now are they cracking down on hotel safety... https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Royal_Jomtien_Resort_Hotel_fire Do we have to wait another 20 years before they start to look at the safety of the boats and ferries operating in the Pattaya area??? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
phycokiller Posted September 28, 2016 Share Posted September 28, 2016 crackdowns, its almost like they think they are running a police state. of course we know they arent Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
craigt3365 Posted September 28, 2016 Share Posted September 28, 2016 14 minutes ago, phycokiller said: crackdowns, its almost like they think they are running a police state. of course we know they arent So making businesses abide by laws isn't a good thing? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
joepattaya1961 Posted September 28, 2016 Share Posted September 28, 2016 I recently had a talk with a company which was hired by Pattaya City Hall to perform regular checks on construction and safety. Of course they could only inspect registered hotels and guesthouses, but at least 60% didn't pass the first test(s): missing smoke-detectors, insufficient fire extinguishers, blocked emergency-exits, etc. Can you imagine what they (won't) find if they inspect the not registered accommodations? And yes, it seems to be a chronic low-season and the tourist cake has to be divided by too many accommodations Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chiang mai Posted September 28, 2016 Share Posted September 28, 2016 2 hours ago, OMGImInPattaya said: Is it too much for these illegal operators to pay for a business/hotel license, pay appropriate business taxes, and maybe even comply with a few rudimentary safety standards? What constitutes a hotel or a guest house and what differentiates it from a business that has rooms, a bar for example? Does the bar need a license also, maybe not if if it's really a guest house. You see the problem. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pouatchee Posted September 28, 2016 Share Posted September 28, 2016 The time given for places to shape up or ship out always allows for other ministers and future governments to overturn previous rulings. Amazing Thailand! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bodymassagemyfriend Posted September 28, 2016 Share Posted September 28, 2016 (edited) 3 hours ago, carstenp said: For me i sounds more and more, there is to few tourist money in the game down there, and the big players want more of the cake. There was no problem for years but suddenly when the big players got hurt, they have to make a crackdown Definitely agree with this. As long as you can be 'made compliant' its always end up in beeing allowed to do it paying more money. So what's the point of the law then , if not excluding from the game people who cant pay as much as the big players. Same logic applies to the recent actions against street food vendor. You have to pay big bucks for yout phad thais now Edited September 28, 2016 by bodymassagemyfriend Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KittenKong Posted September 28, 2016 Share Posted September 28, 2016 Shame. I was hoping they would clamp down on the thousands of illegal short-term condo rentals first. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
OMGImInPattaya Posted September 28, 2016 Share Posted September 28, 2016 2 hours ago, chiang mai said: What constitutes a hotel or a guest house and what differentiates it from a business that has rooms, a bar for example? Does the bar need a license also, maybe not if if it's really a guest house. You see the problem. No I don't see any problem as I'm sure what constitutes what is spelled out in the relevent regulations. It's no different than in any other country...despite what you might want to think. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
futsukayoi Posted September 29, 2016 Share Posted September 29, 2016 15 hours ago, OMGImInPattaya said: Is it too much for these illegal operators to pay for a business/hotel license, pay appropriate business taxes, and maybe even comply with a few rudimentary safety standards? Would also be good if they clamped down on the AirBnB renters who in most cases pay no taxes and don't need to conform to regulations. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tatsujin Posted September 29, 2016 Share Posted September 29, 2016 48 minutes ago, futsukayoi said: Would also be good if they clamped down on the AirBnB renters who in most cases pay no taxes and don't need to conform to regulations. Wasnt their an announcement a little while back in Phuket(?) saying that AirBnB type renting wasn't against the law and wasn't taxable? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tatsujin Posted September 29, 2016 Share Posted September 29, 2016 16 hours ago, craigt3365 said: Or, the government would like these illegal hotels to pay taxes rather than the police with brown envelopes? Also could be in response to China's meeting asking for better safety for their record number of tourists?? Or it's the continuing shifting of payments away from the Police and into the pockets of the Military ... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mikebell Posted September 29, 2016 Share Posted September 29, 2016 First clean-up Pattaya police - then more businesses would have more to invest in safety. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
waldroj Posted September 29, 2016 Share Posted September 29, 2016 "...rather than find another business venture, many entrepreneurs simply ignored the law and opened anyway..."! And, no doubt, the Law turned a blind eye (after appropriate inducement). Aah ha, the true essence of "Thainess"! Finally, something that Thailand really is the hub of! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kingalfred Posted September 29, 2016 Share Posted September 29, 2016 Haha 60%? Illegality is the whole Pattaya economySent from my iPhone using Thaivisa Connect Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
silent Posted September 29, 2016 Share Posted September 29, 2016 20 hours ago, carstenp said: For me i sounds more and more, there is to few tourist money in the game down there, and the big players want more of the cake. There was no problem for years but suddenly when the big players got hurt, they have to make a crackdown Is it possible that some of the recent fires known internationally may have been a learning experience that if not acted on before something like the MGM Grande Hotel fire occurs, more than a few faces will be lost? Or is there really no f in way. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pattaya28 Posted September 29, 2016 Share Posted September 29, 2016 21 hours ago, webfact said: to meet legal registration requirements within five years or be closed Hmm. 5 years to get legal. Will all have blown over / been forgotten about by then. 5 years lee-way So no fire escapes / locked fire escapes for next 4 years is acceptable ? And Tourism Minister wants to "look after the safety of tourists" ? Again, absolutely farcical !! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pattaya28 Posted September 29, 2016 Share Posted September 29, 2016 So lets get real on this one. Claimed 60% of hotels are illegal, therefore the true statistic is probably nearer 80%. Official visits illegal hotel. This this this this and this needs to be rectified. Managers response. Yes yes yes yes and yes. See you in 5 years. 5 years down the line, same official working on another "hair-brain" nonsensical project. And life goes on ........ """Thainess in all its' Glory.""" Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
elgordo38 Posted September 29, 2016 Share Posted September 29, 2016 18 hours ago, joepattaya1961 said: I recently had a talk with a company which was hired by Pattaya City Hall to perform regular checks on construction and safety. Of course they could only inspect registered hotels and guesthouses, but at least 60% didn't pass the first test(s): missing smoke-detectors, insufficient fire extinguishers, blocked emergency-exits, etc. Can you imagine what they (won't) find if they inspect the not registered accommodations? And yes, it seems to be a chronic low-season and the tourist cake has to be divided by too many accommodations Mission Impossible would be to check the rest of the tourist establishments in the country. Dodgy construction dodging the rules is the norm here. Brown envelopes buys you dodgy insurance. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
newnative Posted September 29, 2016 Share Posted September 29, 2016 Yes, hopefully the illegal short-term condo renters will be next! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
IAMHERE Posted September 29, 2016 Share Posted September 29, 2016 20 hours ago, craigt3365 said: So making businesses abide by laws isn't a good thing? Every time someone puts 'law' and Thailand in the same sentence or paragraph a smile comes to my face. Law, Thailand; see ? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KenKadz Posted September 29, 2016 Share Posted September 29, 2016 "The Cabinet on Aug. 19 enacted new rules requiring illegal hotels nationwide to meet legal registration requirements within five years or be closed." Why within five (5) years, they are illegal now? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Redline Posted September 29, 2016 Share Posted September 29, 2016 On 9/28/2016 at 4:01 PM, craigt3365 said: Or, the government would like these illegal hotels to pay taxes rather than the police with brown envelopes? Also could be in response to China's meeting asking for better safety for their record number of tourists?? Or, they want to give them to their friends? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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