Entertainment venues still in limbo

PHUKET CITY: Wisut Romin, Deputy Secretary of the Phuket Provincial Administration Office (PPAO) told the Gazette yesterday that he is still waiting for the Ministry of Interior to set the fees for entertainment licenses, despite 50% of renewals having already been granted. More than 170 licensees in Phuket are now waiting to see just how much they will have to pay. Speculation is rife that licenses – valid from May 12 to December 31 – may cost as much as 50,000 baht apiece. Entertainment venues fall into six main categories (see Gazette Online https://thethaiger.com/news/index.asp?Id=3387 ) and some venues have had to apply for two or more licenses. A March 12 deadline was originally set for license renewals but, said K. Wisut, officials have continued to push applications through because of confusion in the entertainment industry over which license or licenses to apply for. He also cited incomplete and erroneous documentation from applicants as another cause of delays. Meanwhile, a complete moratorium on the granting of new licenses has been imposed in Phuket until the backlog of renewals has been processed. Some 200 new applicants have little option but to wait an indefinite period for a decision on whether they will get licenses. K. Wisut said that most of these applications have come from the Kathu area, which includes Patong. “The process of checking the venues and issuing new licenses requires more time [than for a renewal],” said K. Wisut. “Every document has to be filed at the PPAO and verified by us, but we are trying our best to make the process quick. “As to cost, people should not worry. I don’t think that a license will cost more than 50,000 baht,” said K. Wisut, adding that he expects the fee to be more like 10,000 or 20,000 baht.