House committees hear Phuket hotel licensing concerns, review pearl industry and waste pressures

Members of the House Committee on Administration visited Phuket Old Town on Saturday, June 27, to hear directly from hotel and accommodation operators struggling to obtain licences under the Hotel Act.

Committee chairman Thanayot Timsuwan, a Bhumjaithai Party MP for Loei, led the delegation. They were welcomed by Phuket Vice Governor Romdon Hayiawae, Mueang Phuket District Chief Siwat Rawangkul, officials from the Phuket Provincial Public Works and Town Planning Office, representatives of the Tourism Council of Thailand and local hotel operators.

Discussions focused on obstacles faced by businesses seeking licences under Section 15 of the Hotel Act 2004. Operators told the committee that the law is outdated and no longer reflects the realities of modern tourism.

Thanayot said the visit followed recent inspections by Prime Minister and Interior Minister Anutin Charnvirakul and Deputy Interior Minister Teerarat Samrejvanich, as lawmakers sought to assess the practical impact of current regulations.

He said tourism is extremely important to Phuket, but tourist safety, public order and the collection of taxes and fees must remain priorities. He also said hotel licensing involves multiple agencies and overlapping laws, with some issues capable of being resolved quickly while others would require broader legal reform.

No immediate conclusions were announced, but Thanayot said the committee would use proposals submitted by operators to help develop amendments through the legislative process.

Also on Saturday, the House Committee on Industry visited Amorn Phuket Pearl to study pearl cultivation and jewellery manufacturing and explore ways to strengthen the sector's international competitiveness.

Committee chairman Supachok Srisukajorn, accompanied by vice chairman Krit Silapachai, was welcomed by Phuket Provincial Industry Officer Yaowanit Sae-Tang, Phuket Pearl Industry chairman Amorn Intrachaicharoen and representatives from Thailand Smelting and Refining Co Ltd, or Thaisarco.

The committee was told that Phuket's sheltered waters, favourable currents and nutrient-rich marine environment have helped make the province one of Thailand's leading producers of high-quality Andaman pearls. Executives outlined the company's growth from a family pearl farm established in 1967 into an integrated business covering cultivation, jewellery design and manufacturing under the Amorn brand.

The company also presented environmental measures under the Bio-Circular-Green economy model, including solar power installations, artificial reef projects and a "Waste to Value" programme. Executives said the recycling scheme converts more than six tonnes of discarded pearl shells each year into materials for Buddhist statues and other products, generating more than B2.2 million in additional annual revenue while reducing cement use.

Thaisarco separately urged government support for domestic mineral exploration, streamlined licensing and stronger competitiveness in tin smelting.

The industry committee's visit followed a separate meeting on Friday, June 26, on Phuket's worsening waste management problem. Phuket City Municipality officials told MPs the island generates around 1,400 to 1,600 tonnes of waste a day, while existing disposal facilities can process only about 700 tonnes daily.

Officials said a second municipal waste incinerator due for completion in mid-2027 is expected to raise disposal capacity to about 1,200 tonnes a day. However, they warned that continued urban growth and rising tourist numbers mean Phuket is still likely to face a significant waste surplus. They also reported that Phuket has more than 1.2 million tonnes of accumulated landfill waste.

The committee visits formed part of Parliament's efforts to gather information from local authorities and industry representatives before considering future legislative and policy changes affecting tourism, industry and environmental management in Phuket.