Bangkok: "Chai???" has raised alarms over the presence of 80,000 illegal hotels in Thailand, urging the Ministry of Interior to address the issue, fearing potential misuse by scammer gangs.
According to Thai News Agency, Mr. Chaichana Dechdecho, the Deputy Leader of the Democrat Party, highlighted that out of 100,000 hotels in Thailand, only about 20,000 are legally registered. This leaves a staggering 80,000 unlicensed accommodations, accounting for 70-80% of the total, creating a significant security concern. Mr. Chaichana called on the Ministry of Interior and the Department of Provincial Administration to enforce regulations strictly, as the existing loopholes could be exploited by transnational criminal groups to operate illicit call centers and defraud Thai citizens.
Mr. Chaichana revealed at a recent press conference that the problem has been exacerbated by public complaints concerning the behavior of tourists and foreigners. The law mandates that hotels report foreign guests' information to the Department of Provincial Administration and the Immigration Bureau. However, findings show that only 12,000 of the 20,000 registered hotels comply with this requirement, with 70% using electronic systems and 30% utilizing paper documents. The situation is further aggravated as the 80,000 illegal hotels have not submitted any reports, highlighting a critical oversight in tracking foreigners.
Expressing his concerns, Mr. Chaichana stated that the high number of unlicensed hotels poses a serious risk and urged the Minister of Interior and the Director-General of the Department of Provincial Administration to act swiftly. He stressed the need for a robust system to gather data on foreigners visiting or residing in Thailand.
Mr. Chaichana emphasized that immediate and decisive action is essential to prevent foreign nationals from exploiting these accommodations as bases for criminal activities, particularly for call center scams and online fraud networks that have caused substantial harm to Thai citizens. He called on the Ministry of Interior, the Department of Provincial Administration, and all relevant security agencies to tackle the issue with urgency and strictness.