The Subcommittee on the Study of the Guidelines for Upgrading and Promoting SMEs, as part of the Committee on Commerce and Industry joined a meeting earlier this week, chaired by Senator Nipon Ekwanich, a Phuket native who was appointed to the Senate in the selection process in June.
The subcommittee examined the challenges faced by small hotel operators in obtaining legal status, navigating regulatory hurdles, and contributing to Phuket’s tourism industry.
Prominent participants included Wirintra Paphakityotphat, head of the Tourism Council of Thailand (TCT) Region 11 branch, which represents Phuket, Phang Nga and Krabi, and Chinnawat Udomniyom, President of the Phuket Boutique Accommodation Consortium (BAC Phuket), among other key stakeholders.
The meeting highlighted the complexity of current regulations governing small hotel operations, which are subject to multiple laws, including the Hotel Act B.E. 2547, the Building Control Act B.E. 2522, the Town Planning Act B.E. 2562, and the National Environmental Quality Promotion and Conservation Act B.E. 2535.
Officials noted that overlapping requirements and ministerial regulations have created significant barriers for small hotels seeking operating licences.
To address these issues, the subcommittee proposed the creation of a unified legal framework to streamline the licensing process.
Such a move is expected to stimulate the local economy by encouraging more small hotels to operate legally, generating long-term income for the tourism sector, Ms WiritWirintra argued.
“The goal is to support SME entrepreneurs while ensuring sustainable tourism development, which is crucial for Phuket’s economic growth,” the committee emphasised in its report of the meeting.
The subcommittee will reconvene on Dec 3 to further refine their proposals and explore actionable solutions, the report noted.
See also:
New boutique hotel regulation comes into effect
Small hotels call to expedite law changes to make them legal