News
Krabi officials continue crackdown on illegal hotels and tour operators on Koh Phi Phi

The crackdowns continue on Koh Phi Phi as Krabi officials focus on the popular tourist magnet island. Yesterday (June 7) further inspections on Koh Phi Phi Don uncovered plenty more illegal hotels as well as illegal diving operations.
One hotel, still under construction, was found on land with more than a 35 degrees slope this week. The hotel owner was invited to present land documents to land officers. Officials suspect the project is being constructed on encroached reserve forest.
Other seven hotels were found adapting non-compliant buildings and operating them as illegal hotels with guests not being reported to Immigration within 24 hours of checking in.
Nine diving operators were also found to be illegal. Some of them were hiring illegal migrant workers and haven’t submitted social insurance for workers or kept adequate documentation for their businesses.
One diving operation police raided was operated by an Englishman and Scot. Officers have put them on notice to come up with legal documentation for their business.
The Minister of Tourism and Sports, Weerasak Kowsurat, is closely following up with Krabi official working on these issues on the popular tourist island.
Mr Weerasak says that, being rainy season, official inspection on the island checking illegal hotels and tour operators won’t affect tourism.
PHOTOS: Krabi PR Office
Read more headlines, reports & breaking news in Phuket. Or catch up on your Thailand news.
Phuket
Phuket tourist decides hotel awning more comfortable than his room

PHOTOS: Rawai Rescue workers / Phuket Tourist Police
The Phuket Tourist Police have been notified that a tourist had jumped from a building in Rawai and ended up on a steel awning covering the bottom floor today. But that wasn’t, in fact, what had happened.
The local Tourist Police say the owner of the building told staff at the Tourist Assistance Centre that the tourist had checked into the room on February 13.
The tourist didn’t actually jump down from the building but had moved a mattress from his room on to the awning and slept on it (mosquitos!!) He was also drunk and damaged some property inside the room.
The man is a 37 year old Estonian tourist. He was staying at the room with a 25 year old male friend.
Chalong Police have charged them both with being drunk and damaging property. They have said that they will pay for all damages to the owner of the property. They are heading back home on February 26.
Business
Thai exports fall 5.7 percent in January, year-on-year

Thai export results have dipped for the third straight month, falling more than 5.65% compared to a year earlier. The fall was a lot bigger than expected, according to the Thai commerce ministry.
Shipments contracted 1.72% in December, compared to a year earlier as well.
January’s export drop was due to falling shipments of rice, gold, electronics and cars, according to the ministry. Digging into the numbers, exports to the US rose 8.3% in the first month of the year, compared to January 2018, but exports to China slumped 16.7%.
The strong Thai baht, Asia’s best performing currency this year, has increasingly hit exports, particularly rice orders.
Checking imports for the same period, and the numbers jumped surprisingly 13.99% year on year, after sliding 8.15% in December 2018. Analysts say the surge in imports was partly due to imports of arms and military weapons.
There was a trade deficit of $4.03 billion in January, compared with a forecast surplus of $320 million surplus. December 2018 had a $1.06 billion surplus.
But the ministry says they are still forecasting export growth of 8% for 2019 after a 6.7% increase last year.
Chiang Mai
American backpacker refuses to pay for girl he brought back to hostel, punches staff

An American backpacker tourist, visiting Chiang Mai, had to be restrained after getting into a squabble with hostel staff after being asked to leave the premises.
The video of the altercation was shared on Reddit by ‘EatPrayFart’.
Following a night out, the backpacker brought a girl back to the mixed dorm room that he shared with nine other people. The report alleges the two had sex and were making a lot of noise.
The following morning the man was asked to leave the premises for breaking hostel rules. The staff also demanded he pay 200 baht for allowing the girl to stay in the dorm with him.
The man refused to pay and a fight followed, caught on camera, in the reception of the hostel.
In the footage the American man can be seen punching a member of the hostel staff before being restrained by another man. Some comments in the original post say that the man was also asked to leave by some of the other people staying in the dorm.
The report suggests the man was later taken into custody by Chiang Mai police.
-
Krabi2 days ago
Five year old Finnish boy mauled by dogs at Krabi Beach
-
Business2 days ago
Thai baht surges against weakening US dollar
-
Phuket12 hours ago
Phuket tourist decides hotel awning more comfortable than his room
-
Chiang Mai13 hours ago
American backpacker refuses to pay for girl he brought back to hostel, punches staff
-
Chiang Mai2 days ago
Thailand will swelter through searing temperatures this summer
-
Pattaya3 days ago
Foreign tourists being tracked down for driving dangerously in Pattaya
-
Thailand3 days ago
The legalisation of marijuana for medical purposes, is now in effect
-
Thai Life4 days ago
Why is Thailand so popular for medical tourists?