Phi Phi hotel crackdown continues
The crackdown continues on Koh Phi Phi as Krabi officials focus on the popular tourist island.
Yesterday further inspections on Koh Phi Phi Don uncovered more illegal hotels as well as illegal diving operations.
One hotel, still under construction, was found on land with more than a 35-degree slope this week. The hotel owner was invited to present land documents to officers. Officials suspect the project is being constructed on a forest reserve.
Seven other 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 had not submitted social insurance for workers or kept adequate documentation for their businesses.
One diving operation police raided was operated by an Englishman and a Scottish citizen. Officers have put them on notice to come up with legal documentation for their business.
Minister of Tourism and Sport Weerasak Kowsurat said he was following up with Krabi officials working on these issues on the island.
Weerasak said, during the rainy season, official inspection on the island checking illegal hotels and tour operators would not affect tourism.