Draft Hotel Act 2025: Legalizing Short-Term Stays in Thailand

Summary of the Draft Hotel and Accommodation Act
to be proposed to Parliament
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1. Purpose of the Draft
This draft act is designed to accommodate the modern forms
of accommodation services that have evolved,
such as short-term daily rentals through online platforms.
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The current Hotel Act B.E. 2547 (2004) does not cover these,
so it needs to be updated to ensure better guest protection
and appropriate service standards.
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2. New Definition of “Accommodation”
✅ Refers to rooms, houses, guesthouses, buildings, or other premises
with no more than 29 rooms
and a capacity of no more than 58 persons.
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✅ Includes homestays, hostels, tents, rafts, caravans, and outdoor stays.
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✅ Must provide services on a daily or short-term basis
for remuneration.
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3. Licensing Requirements
✅ Daily rental operators must obtain a license from the registrar first.
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Applicants must meet specific qualifications, such as:
✅ Age not less than 20 years
✅ Not bankrupt
✅ No serious criminal records, etc.
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If the accommodation is located in a housing estate or condominium,
approval from the juristic person (condo association)
is required before applying to the authorities.
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4. Obligations of Operators
✅ Display license, room rates, fire escape plan,
and liability limitation documents.
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✅ Ensure safety, cleanliness, and building security.
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✅ Must have an on-site caretaker while guests are staying
(the owner may act as the caretaker).
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✅ Keep a guest registry and submit it to officials,
maintaining records for at least one year.
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5. Supervision and Penalties
✅ Non-compliance may lead to suspension or revocation of the license.
✅ Daily fines apply for violations.
✅ Officials are authorized to inspect premises
and request documents to maintain service standards.
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6. Transitional Provisions
Operators providing daily rentals
before the law takes effect
must apply for a license within one year of enforcement.
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While waiting for approval,
operations may continue temporarily as before.
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7. Fees and Charges
✅ License application: 25,000 THB
✅ Replacement license: 100 THB
✅ Renewal: 50% of the license fee
✅ Annual fee: 40 THB per room
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Overall, this draft act
opens a legal channel for small operators
— homestays or daily rentals in houses or condos —
to operate lawfully.
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But they must obtain licenses
and comply with clear safety and hygiene standards
to protect guests
and ensure service quality control.
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Q: Does this mean condos can now legally do short-term rentals if licensed?
A: Yes.
✅ Yes, if licensed under the Act.
✅ Must have written consent from the condo juristic person.
✅ Must meet safety, hygiene, and supervision standards.
✅ Must maintain a guest registry for inspection.
✅ Condo names used for rentals must not duplicate hotel names
or violate other laws.
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Without a license,
violations of Section 29
constitute an offense under Section 52 —
punishable by a fine up to 100,000 THB,
plus a daily fine up to 10,000 THB
until compliance.
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Voting Summary
Out of 241 public participants:
✅ 39.42% agreed with the draft act
❌ 60.58% disagreed with the draft act
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Join the discussion at
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