The response follows a gathering on May 13 led by Patong Entertainment Business Association (PEBA) President Weerawit Kreuasombat, during which venue operators and employees assembled outside Bangla Police Box to protest alleged bribery and extortion by officials and to demand fairer treatment in the licensing process.
According to NBT Phuket, Phuket Vice Governor Adul Chuthong said provincial officials immediately met with operators after the protest to discuss their concerns and clarify issues surrounding inspections and entertainment licence applications.
Of note, the report very unusually did not include any photos showing Vice Governor Adul or any other officials meeting with any Patong nightlife representatives. The report also did not clarify when Vice Governor Adul or other officials reportedly spoke with the nightlife operators.
Regardless, the report said Mr Adul explained that many operators had submitted licence applications since April, with some already approved while others remained under document verification.
He said the province was working to resolve discrepancies and misunderstandings in order to reduce the impact on businesses.
Provincial officials also held discussions with the association president and Patong Municipality representatives, he said, stressing the need for entertainment venues to comply strictly with laws governing opening and closing times, firearms control, drug prevention measures and restrictions on underage customers.
The measures were necessary to prevent violent incidents that could damage Phuket’s tourism image, he added.
Mr Adul also insisted that all inspections and enforcement actions by officials had been conducted according to legal procedures and denied allegations that authorities had solicited bribes from operators.
He said all officials had been instructed to carry out their duties transparently while calling on entertainment venue operators to cooperate in maintaining safety and Phuket’s reputation as a world-class tourism destination.
According to the province, the network of entertainment venue operators in Patong comprises about 300 businesses.
Officials estimate that Bangla Rd alone generates at least B100 million in daily turnover, while the wider Patong economy, including hotels, restaurants, transport and related services, is estimated to generate more than B1 billion per day.
During the May 13 protest, operators carried signs reading “No Bribes”, “Stop Extorting the People” and “Prime Minister Anutin, Help the People of Phuket from Greedy Officials”.
Mr Weerawit said many operators had spent years attempting to secure proper licences but remained stuck in the approval process despite submitting applications and paying required fees.
He said unclear coordination between agencies had created opportunities for some officials to pressure operators for bribes.
Licensing issues were especially problematic in areas outside officially designated entertainment zones, including Nanai Rd, where businesses had operated for decades despite zoning restrictions, he said.
Mr Weerawit urged the government to review zoning regulations to better reflect modern conditions in Patong and allow long-established businesses to operate legally.
He warned that strict enforcement without resolving zoning and licensing problems could hurt tourism, damage the local economy and leave some areas deserted.
The protest came shortly after Deputy Prime Minister and Interior Minister Anutin Charnvirakul visited Phuket and pledged to crack down on influential figures and mafia-style operations linked to the tourism industry.