They are also calling on authorities to designate Chiang Mai City as a Special Economic Zone for Tourism and legalise them. A guesthouse operator who asked for anonymity said the current law worked against people who wished to turn their homes or dormitory buildings into rooms for daily rental. “To get through all these steps, can cost up to Bt1 million and there’s no guarantee to get a licence,” he said. Another anonymous operator said his place was hit by a sting operation using a foreigner decoy a month ago and he was fined Bt20,000 fine and his place closed. The petition asking for the small hotels and guesthouses to be legalised will be submitted on May 30 to the Administrative Court for consideration.

Source: The Nation Bangkok May 25, 2018 12:00 UTC