Thailand is accelerating efforts to regulate tourism businesses in Phuket as it steps up action against nominee firms, with 39 companies already facing legal proceedings.

Thailand has intensified its crackdown on suspected foreign nominee networks in Phuket, Phang Nga and Krabi, with authorities inspecting 89 land plots worth more than Bt1 billion as part of efforts to curb illegal foreign control of land and businesses in major tourism provinces.