reader Posted February 26 Posted February 26 From Patttaya News Thienprasit Chaiyapatranun, President of the Thai Hotels Association (THA), raised concerns over increasing foreign acquisitions of hotels, pool villas, and luxury residences in key tourist destinations like Phuket and Bangkok. Some foreign owners, particularly Russians, have been illegally renting out properties on a daily basis, according to Thienprasit. In Bangkok, both Thai and foreign investors are reportedly buying entire floors in condominiums for short-term rentals, while Chinese investors have been purchasing nearly entire luxury housing projects and offering full-scale shuttle services for tourists. THA urged the government to limit foreign property ownership and reconsider the length of stay permitted under visas to prevent economic imbalances. Separately, Sisdivachr Cheewarattanaporn, President of the Thai Travel Agents Association, addressed growing opposition to Israeli tourists in Pai due to concerns over inappropriate behavior. He called for stricter security checks to ensure travelers are genuine tourists and emphasized the importance of enforcing Thai laws. Regarding Chinese tourism, he urged the government to restore confidence following past scams targeting Chinese visitors, such as call center fraud. https://thepattayanews.com/2025/02/25/thailand-considers-stricter-visa-rules-to-curb-long-term-foreign-rentals/ Quote
