The House of Representatives on Wednesday unanimously approved in principle two bills to amend the Hotel Act, despite opposition criticism they would not adequately address long-standing regulatory problems.
Lawmakers considered two amendments to the Hotel Act — one proposed by the cabinet and another by Bhumjaithai Party MP Thanayos Timsuwan.
The changes seek to update provisions of the 2004 Hotel Act, which prohibits operating a hotel without a licence. Under current regulations, homeowners may rent out accommodation without a hotel licence only if the property has no more than four rooms and can take no more than 20 guests, provided they notify the registrar under Interior Ministry regulations.
Bhumjaithai lawmakers argued existing limits no longer reflect market conditions and unnecessarily restrict people seeking to earn supplementary income by operating small-scale accommodation businesses. They also said the Interior Ministry has yet to issue the detailed regulations and notification procedures envisaged under the law, creating uncertainty for operators.
While MPs across the political spectrum supported updating the legislation, members of the main opposition People’s Party (PP) said the cabinet’s proposals failed to address broader structural problems in the regulatory framework.
People’s Party MP Taopiphop Limjittrakorn said previous studies had shown the law required more comprehensive reform, warning the government’s amendments alone would not resolve the sector’s regulatory challenges.
He urged the cabinet to support a more wide-ranging amendment bill submitted by PP MP Nattapol Towichakchaikul, which has been classified as a money bill and is awaiting the endorsement of Prime Minister and Interior Minister Anutin Charnvirakul before it can be returned to parliament for consideration.
