On Saturday (June 27), members of the House Committee on Administration visited Phuket Old Town to hear directly from hotel and accommodation operators struggling to obtain licences under the Hotel Act.
Committee chairman Thanayot Timsuwan, the Bhumjaithai Party MP for Loei, led the delegation, which was 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.
The discussions centred on obstacles faced by businesses seeking licences under Section 15 of the Hotel Act 2004, with operators arguing that existing legislation is outdated and no longer reflects the realities of modern tourism.
Mr Thanayot said the committee’s 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.
"We understand that tourism is extremely important to Phuket," Mr Thanayot said.
"We also understand the concerns of business operators over laws that are no longer suited to present-day conditions. At the same time, tourist safety must remain the priority, public order must be maintained, and the government must receive the taxes and fees to which it is entitled."
He acknowledged that hotel licensing involves multiple agencies and overlapping legislation, with some issues capable of being resolved quickly while others would require more extensive legal reform.
Although no immediate conclusions were reached, as has been the case for years, Mr Thanayot said the committee would use the 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 sector and explore ways to strengthen the industry’s international competitiveness.
Committee chairman Supachok Srisukajorn led the delegation, accompanied by committee vice chairman Krit Silapachai. They were welcomed by Phuket Provincial Industry Officer Yaowanit Sae-Tang, Phuket Pearl Industry chairman Amorn Intrachaicharoen and representatives from Thailand Smelting and Refining Co Ltd (Thaisarco).
The committee heard how Phuket’s sheltered waters, favourable currents and nutrient-rich marine environment have enabled the province to become one of Thailand’s leading producers of high-quality Andaman pearls.
Company executives outlined the firm’s development from a family pearl farm established in 1967 into a fully integrated pearl business encompassing cultivation, jewellery design and manufacturing under the Amorn brand.
The company also highlighted environmental initiatives under the Bio-Circular-Green (BCG) economy model, including solar power installations that have significantly reduced electricity consumption, artificial reef projects that support marine ecosystems and local fishing communities, and a ‘Waste to Value’ programme that converts more than six tonnes of discarded pearl shells each year into materials for Buddhist statues and other products.
Executives said the recycling initiative generates more than B2.2 million in additional annual revenue while reducing cement consumption.
The committee also received a presentation from Thaisarco on Phuket’s tin industry, with company representatives calling on the government to support domestic mineral exploration, streamline licensing procedures and strengthen Thailand’s competitiveness in tin smelting.
The industry committee’s visit followed a separate meeting on Friday (June 26) examining Phuket’s growing waste management problems.
During that session, Phuket City Municipality officials told MPs the island currently generates around 1,400-1,600 tonnes of waste each day, while existing disposal facilities can process only about 700 tonnes daily.
Although a second municipal waste incinerator due for completion in mid-2027 is expected to increase disposal capacity to around 1,200 tonnes per day, officials warned that continued urban growth and rising tourist numbers mean Phuket is still likely to face a significant waste surplus.
Municipal officials also reported that Phuket now has more than 1.2 million tonnes of accumulated waste in landfill sites, underscoring the need for long-term planning and investment in more efficient waste management technologies.
The series of committee visits formed part of Parliament’s ongoing efforts to gather information from local authorities and industry representatives before considering future legislative and policy changes affecting tourism, industry and environmental management.
Of note, front and centre in the tour to Amorn Phuket Pearl was Supachok Srisukajorn, the Bhumjaithai Party MP for Nakhon Pathom Constituency 1. Still only 32, he was first elected to Parliament as a member of the Chart Thai Pattana Party before later joining the Bhumjaithai Party.
Supachok, who has a master’s degree from Columbia University, is also well known as a son of former Nakhon Pathom senator Thongchai Srisukcharoen. His father became the subject of a high-profile National Anti-Corruption Commission (NACC) case over alleged false declarations of assets and liabilities while serving as a senator.
Prosecutors alleged that Thongchai failed to declare bank accounts, investments and land belonging to himself, his wife and their minor son in mandatory asset declarations filed on entering and leaving office. The case proceeded to the Supreme Court’s Criminal Division for Holders of Political Positions. Thongchai’s appeal argued that the prosecution had exceeded the statute of limitations rather than disputing the substance of the allegations. The appeal was dismissed
Although the case did not involve Supachok personally, his family’s political background and his father’s legal troubles have made him a notable figure within Thailand’s newer generation of politicians. Since entering Parliament, Supachok has developed a profile focused on industrial policy, economic development and manufacturing, and now chairs the House Committee on Industry, which oversees matters relating to Thailand’s industrial sector, including mining, manufacturing and related investment policy.