Thailand’s Ministry of Tourism and Sports, supported by enforcement agencies, is intensifying oversight of tour companies and guides through random checks on over 900 businesses and 300 guides nationwide. Authorities have identified violations such as operating without permits, failing to display licenses, and lacking mandatory tourist insurance. Offenders face stiff penalties, including fines up to 500,000 baht or imprisonment. This campaign is expected to eliminate unlicensed operators, foster industry competition, and enhance tourist safety. Further details illustrate ongoing regulatory strategies.
In recent months, Thailand has intensified its efforts to regulate the tourism industry by conducting widespread inspections of tour companies and guides across the country. Between October 2024 and March 2025, authorities carried out random checks on 940 tour companies and 338 guides, targeting both established operators and new entrants.
The Ministry of Tourism and Sports established a new Joint Operations Centre, collaborating with five key agencies to focus on nominee-run businesses and unauthorized guides, especially in prominent tourist destinations. In a move towards greater transparency, the Ministry has also begun publishing statistics on tourist-related crimes and enforcement actions, aiming to set a global example and encourage accountability within the sector. In addition, authorities have reported over 9,500 cases of crimes against tourists, highlighting the need for stringent regulation and increased safety measures in the industry.
A new Joint Operations Centre now targets nominee-run businesses and unauthorized guides in Thailand’s top tourist hotspots.
Offenses uncovered during these inspections included companies operating without the required permits, failing to display business licenses, and neglecting to provide mandatory tourist insurance. Unlicensed guides were also found offering their services without proper authorization or official work orders.
In response, the government implemented stricter regulations, such as requiring all tour advertisements to display valid business license numbers. Penalties for violators are severe: unlicensed tour operators may face fines up to 500,000 baht, imprisonment for up to two years, or both, while illegal guides can be fined up to 100,000 baht or jailed for up to one year.
The crackdown is part of a broader effort to raise industry standards and enhance tourist safety. Historical data reveals a longstanding issue; in 2018 alone, authorities recorded 1,581 cases of illegal tour guides, 390 cases of “sitting” guides enabling unlicensed foreign operators, and 6,333 instances of unlicensed tour operations.
Additional concerns have included crimes at tourist attractions and exploitation by taxi drivers, with thousands of cases annually involving overcharging or refusal of service.
Government officials, led by the Ministry of Tourism and Sports, have emphasized transparency, regularly releasing updates on enforcement outcomes, arrests, and prosecutions.
While the campaign aims to push out rogue operators and improve service quality, some smaller or fringe operators face short-term disruptions as they adapt to the new requirements.
Ultimately, the enforcement drive is expected to foster competition among legal operators, raise professionalism, and strengthen Thailand’s reputation as a safe, premium travel destination.
