Phuket Licence Lab launched to help small accommodation operators obtain hotel licences

A new initiative bringing volunteer architects, business groups and academics together to help small accommodation operators obtain hotel licences has been launched in Phuket.

The Phuket Licence Lab was launched on 5 October 2026 with the signing of a memorandum of understanding at the Phuket City Development Co Ltd offices in Wichit. The five partners are the Phuket Boutique Accommodation Association, the Association of Siamese Architects under Royal Patronage’s Southern Chapter, the Tourism Council of Thailand, Eastern University of Management and Technology, and the Baan Bamrung Mueang group from Class 30 of the King Prajadhipok’s Institute’s Senior Executive Program.

Under the project, volunteer architects will inspect accommodation businesses, identify obstacles to licensing and advise operators on steps needed to bring their properties into compliance.

The first pilot inspections took place at Beehive Phuket Old Town Hostel on Phang Nga Road and Phuket Sunny Hostel on Dibuk Road. At Beehive, the team examined fire escapes, fire-protection systems, building setbacks, wastewater treatment, land-title documents and the building’s physical condition. The assessment at Phuket Sunny Hostel focused on building constraints and other issues affecting entry into the formal licensing system.

The project says licensing problems are not necessarily caused by deliberate attempts to evade the law. They can involve fire escapes and fire-protection systems, setbacks and open spaces, access points, wastewater treatment, town-planning requirements, land-title documentation and physical limitations imposed by existing buildings.

The issue is particularly relevant in Phuket Old Town, where many buildings predate current regulations and may be difficult to alter to meet modern standards.

The Licence Lab will use building-condition checklists and application data to classify problems into three groups: issues operators can resolve themselves; matters requiring renovation or design changes; and cases involving legal restrictions or differing interpretations that need to be referred to government agencies.

A release announcing the initiative said its aim was not to lower safety standards, but to find practical ways for existing businesses to comply with the law. The accumulated cases will also be used to develop proposals for regulatory reform.

The initiative follows years of difficulties in Phuket’s hotel licensing system. A Phuket industry estimate puts the number of accommodation businesses on the island at 8,000-9,000, although only a fraction have held official hotel licences. In June, the Interior Ministry said Phuket had about 5,000 hotel establishments but only around 800 valid licences. More than 400 applications had been held in the provincial system since 2018.

Authorities said in August that more than 300 applications had been processed during June and July, leaving about 100 under review.

The Public Sector Anti-Corruption Commission also examined the system on 31 August, when its officials joined Phuket authorities in inspecting more than eight establishments. The review covered obstacles faced by operators and the time taken to process applications. The commission said it was examining potential risks including bribery, extortion and improper use of official discretion, while stressing that the inspection was preventive and had not been prompted by a formal complaint. It recommended reducing unnecessary procedures while maintaining legal and safety requirements.

The Licence Lab will monitor how many businesses seek help, which obstacles occur most often and how many eventually obtain licences.