The eviction started last week after Kamala Police arrived to serve the eviction notice, and notice against trespassing, on Dec 8.
Phuket Tourist Police were also present to explain the situation to the tourists.
“Private property, No entry without permission. Violators will be prosecuted,” says a sign now hanging across the front entrance to the resort.
The warning is in Thai, English and Russian.
Police and the property owner also posted copies of the court order authorising the eviction, and documents providing evidence of ownership of the land, belonging to Alongkot Kingkaew, currently residing in Chalong.
Mr Alongkot explained that the land had been rented out as an empty lot to Kamphon Turakij Co Ltd since 2004.
A notice posted at the hotel ‒ originally built as the Kamala Beach Inn Hotel, currently renamed Kamala Resort ‒ explained that original rental fee was B250,000 a year, gradually increasing each five years thereafter.
However, Kamphon Turakij Co Ltd had refused to pay rent for at least the past eight years.
A court order by Phuket Provincial Court for the property to be vacated in 2019 was ignored, as were any other attempts to hev the property vacated, Mr Alongkot explained.
A Supreme Court on June 5, 2020 found in Mr Alongkot’s favour, and deemed its decision final. And still the property remained illegally occupied, he added.
The hotel, which has 120 rooms continued to operate over the years, but its operations were an oddity, he explained.
Although the hotel now looks closed, tourists still come and go, and there is a security guard posted at the front, he noted.
“The hotel is closed like it’s deserted, but there are people coming in and out. There is a security guard in charge, but it’s not open all year,’ he said.
“Every year, when we enter the area, they find someone to come in, a third party, to prevent us from [reclaiming the property],” he added.
Phuket Tourist Police confirmed that some of the tourists staying at the hotel moved out immediately when the eviction notice was served.
Others were allowed to stay until they could find alternative accommodation.
“I don’t want anything to affect tourism or affect the image of Phuket Province,” Mr Alongkit said.
“They can still stay if the booking came from an agent. It’s not really okay, but we have already accepted this to try to help them,” he added.