Thai PM visits Full Moon Party island amid crack down on foreigners running businesses
The Thai Prime Minister visited the Full Moon Party island amid a crackdown on foreigners running businesses in the notoriously protectionist country.
Anutin Charnvirakul and Cabinet members inspected tourist zones as they launched a major 'clean-up' involving unauthorised shell businesses on Koh Pha Ngan on May 13.
The PM said the government will not allow foreigners 'to unfairly exploit local resources or take jobs from Thai citizens', potentially bringing an end to the investment and innovation brought by many international residents.
He added: 'Tourists who visit to spend money and relax are welcome, but we will not allow foreigners to establish businesses competing with local operators or use Thai resources for personal gain without respecting the law.
'Our duty is to provide them with the greatest comfort, but they do not need to perform our duties for us.'
He also said no one has the right to claim ownership over beaches, as such areas are classified as public land accessible to everyone.
The government said it would instruct the Royal Forest Department, the Department of National Parks, Wildlife and Plant Conservation, and local authorities to conduct rezoning and eliminate encroachment on state land.
Officials said they will halt the 'land nominee' scheme, which allowed nominee companies to acquire farmland owned by locals. Future land allocations must go directly to genuine farmers and local residents.
Prime Minister Anutin also outlined plans to create the ‘Pha Ngan Model' - large-scale infrastructure investment projects that would address freshwater shortages and improve electricity stability on the island.
He said: 'If Koh Pha Ngan remains unstable, it will be a failure of the government's work.'
The visit comes after investigators raided 27 companies accused of illegally owning land plots through Thai proxies and operating businesses reserved for Thais.
Authorities said 62 suspects have been arrested since the start of the year over nominee businesses on Koh Pha Ngan.
