DOPA raids Patong hotel again over alleged unlicensed operation
DOPA officers raided Chateau du Village Patong Hotel on June 16, alleging it continued operating without a licence despite a previous prosecution earlier this year.
Department of Provincial Administration officers carried out a second raid on Chateau du Village Patong Hotel on Phra Metta Road on Tuesday, June 16, alleging the property was continuing to operate without a hotel licence.
DOPA said the operation was part of its nationwide crackdown on illegal hotels under government policy directed by Prime Minister and Interior Minister Anutin Charnvirakul. The department said Director-General Narucha Khosasilvilai had ordered special operations officers to investigate unlicensed accommodation businesses in key tourist destinations.
According to DOPA, investigators found that Chateau du Village Patong Hotel was accepting bookings through online platforms and operating as a hotel without the licence required under the Hotel Act 2004. Officials alleged the hotel had previously been arrested and prosecuted by DOPA’s special operations unit in February, but had continued operating.
DOPA said officers gathered evidence by booking rooms at the property as part of a sting operation before coordinating with Patong Police to inspect the premises and take legal action. During the inspection, officers collected documents and other evidence and handed the case to investigators at Patong Police Station.
According to the police report, Chateau Phuket Co Ltd, represented by Athiwat Saengsom, will be prosecuted for operating a hotel business without a licence. Police also confirmed the hotel had previously been prosecuted for the same offence.
The source said that in February, the Phuket Provincial Court found the defendant guilty of operating a hotel without a licence, imposing a six-month prison sentence suspended for one year and a fine of B10,000. The court also ordered an additional daily fine of B1,000 dating from Jan 31, 2025, and continuing for as long as the offence persisted.
The latest complaint was lodged by Kathu District officials, with Patong Police now responsible for continuing the investigation.
DOPA said it would continue targeting illegal hotels across Thailand to ensure fair competition for licensed operators, protect tourist safety and prevent illegal businesses from profiting while allegedly paying bribes to avoid enforcement.
The raid followed a series of recent operations in Phuket. Last week, DOPA officers arrested operators of seven allegedly unlicensed accommodation businesses in Patong, Karon and Rawai as part of the same campaign.
