Dozens of Hua Hin hotels deemed illegal – but not prosecuted because of connections to state employees

Local news stated that there are likely many more hotels in the Hua Hin area that have opened or are operating illegally.
But the reason they have not been prosecuted is that they are owned or financed by Thai civil servants.
The claim comes as ten hotels at the resort face legal action for contravening regulations concerning licenses.
Provincial and local government have found themselves hamstrung by the regulations and are actively seeking government help as the ten hotels named last month continue to operate as if nothing has happened.
Final warnings have been issued that the properties will be forced to close next week. Whether that will actually happen remains to be seen as other deadlines have come and gone.
But now comes word from what Daily News said were sources high up in the Hua Hin administration that stated that more than 20 hotels found not to have real licenses in the period 2014-2015 have had no action made against them at all.
The source said that this was partly connected to what was deemed as adversely affecting tourism at the resort and also to the fact that many of the hotels had connections with corrupt local officials. MD – EP