PHUKET: More than 400 resorts and hotels operating illegally on Phuket are likely to be offered an amnesty . . . and those that do not come in from the cold to pay taxes and obey laws will face naming and shaming.
Latest figures reveal that 61.12 percent of Phuket's 702 resorts and hotels are illegal. That's a massive 429 establishments operating beyond the law on Phuket - a tally that does not include the condominium and apartment blocks passing themselves off as hotels.
Phuket Governor Tri Augkaradacha told Phuketwan this week that he is planning to suggest the amnesty idea to authorities in Bangkok. The names of the illegal establishments are all known, so the Phuket Chamber of Commerce could, after the amnesty deadline passes, list all the legal and illegal venues, as Secretary-General Dr Sirichai Silpa-Ar-Cha is now suggesting.
Bringing Phuket's reluctant resorts within the law is just one of several steps required to improve Phuket's reputation as a safe and environmentally-aware international destination.
Tourism Authority of Thailand Phuket regional director Bangornrat Shinaprayoon says: ''We have the names of the illegal establishments and the TAT won't support anything they do. When it comes to international marketing, the legal resorts and hotels on Phuket have our full support.
''The ones that pay their taxes deserve the better opportunities.
''In the long term, if Phuket wishes to be seen as a quality destination for quality tourists, the island cannot afford to have its reputation ruined by illegal operators who fail to conform to safety standards and who fail to protect the environment.''
The numbers for Phuket are alarming. Only 273 of the 702 resorts and hotels are legal, and of the total of 42,684 rooms available on Phuket, only 28,972 rooms are approved.
Phuket's Governor Tri says some resorts and hotels are on public land, making it difficult for them to ever become legal.
''This is one reason why it's difficult to solve this problem.'' Whether resorts erected illegally on public land would be part of any amnesty would be a difficult decision for Bangkok authorities to make in view of the encouragement it would seem to be to encroachers.
Other resorts and hotels may feel confident to register with their local council if it's a matter of avoiding exposure and conforming to safety, engineering and environmental standards. However, some of the abuses have been continuing for 20 years - and the older Phuket establishments may have problems meeting requirements.
Those that do not change are not likely to survive without conforming. An amnesty that sorted the repentant resorts from the recidivists would be a step in the right direction.
In the near future, the Phuket Chamber of Commerce list of legal and illegal establishments seems likely to become essential reading for all people considering a visit to Phuket.
Phuket Statues Growing Popular on Phuket HilltopsLatest figures reveal that 61.12 percent of Phuket's 702 resorts and hotels are illegal. That's a massive 429 establishments operating beyond the law on Phuket - a tally that does not include the condominium and apartment blocks passing themselves off as hotels.
Phuket Governor Tri Augkaradacha told Phuketwan this week that he is planning to suggest the amnesty idea to authorities in Bangkok. The names of the illegal establishments are all known, so the Phuket Chamber of Commerce could, after the amnesty deadline passes, list all the legal and illegal venues, as Secretary-General Dr Sirichai Silpa-Ar-Cha is now suggesting.
Bringing Phuket's reluctant resorts within the law is just one of several steps required to improve Phuket's reputation as a safe and environmentally-aware international destination.
Tourism Authority of Thailand Phuket regional director Bangornrat Shinaprayoon says: ''We have the names of the illegal establishments and the TAT won't support anything they do. When it comes to international marketing, the legal resorts and hotels on Phuket have our full support.
''The ones that pay their taxes deserve the better opportunities.
''In the long term, if Phuket wishes to be seen as a quality destination for quality tourists, the island cannot afford to have its reputation ruined by illegal operators who fail to conform to safety standards and who fail to protect the environment.''
The numbers for Phuket are alarming. Only 273 of the 702 resorts and hotels are legal, and of the total of 42,684 rooms available on Phuket, only 28,972 rooms are approved.
Phuket's Governor Tri says some resorts and hotels are on public land, making it difficult for them to ever become legal.
''This is one reason why it's difficult to solve this problem.'' Whether resorts erected illegally on public land would be part of any amnesty would be a difficult decision for Bangkok authorities to make in view of the encouragement it would seem to be to encroachers.
Other resorts and hotels may feel confident to register with their local council if it's a matter of avoiding exposure and conforming to safety, engineering and environmental standards. However, some of the abuses have been continuing for 20 years - and the older Phuket establishments may have problems meeting requirements.
Those that do not change are not likely to survive without conforming. An amnesty that sorted the repentant resorts from the recidivists would be a step in the right direction.
In the near future, the Phuket Chamber of Commerce list of legal and illegal establishments seems likely to become essential reading for all people considering a visit to Phuket.
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This is a very bad signal to send ... approving something or somebody that does not follow the law.
The illegal hotels etc chose not to be a part of the society and pay their part, just wanting to reap the benefit the society provide and the profits they can generate without sharing.....No ... since they are well known to the Governor then he should immediately share this information with the revenue department and any other department or part of society that is being cheated on and these department should do their work...if there is knowledge of Hotels being erected illegally .. then have them demolished... not doing anything is just an open invitation not to follow any law.
Posted by Bjarne on October 16, 2011 11:28