Blessing its bureaucratic heart, Thailand has decided to shake the dust off its tourism rulebook and march boldly into the 21st century. Out goes the Hotel Act of 1994, a relic from a simpler era when a “hotel” meant bellboys, brass luggage carts, and marble-clad lobbies. The shiny new Accommodation Act comes at least, that’s the plan. The only snag? It hasn’t actually been signed into law yet.
Yes, you read that correctly. As of September 2025, this long-trumpeted reform remains trapped in legislative limbo, lounging under the Council of State’s watchful gaze. Until it graces the Royal Gazette, it’s more “holiday brochure” than complex law. But let’s not be churlish—the proposals themselves are worth a look.
Hotels, Homestays and Everything in Between
Thailand’s Bold Hotel Classification Reset
The new act seeks to broaden the very definition of accommodation. Forget your grand dame hotels on Sukhumvit Road. Tomorrow’s “hotel” could be:
-
A homestay in Isan, where breakfast is sticky rice wrapped in banana leaves.
-
A Phuket villa with infinity pool views of the Andaman Sea.
-
An Airbnb condo in Sathorn rented for the weekend.
-
Even a raft or eco-lodge where the nearest minibar is a chilly Esky.
In short, the act would put tents, rafts, eco-lodges, and homestays under one regulatory umbrella. A tiered system should make life easier for smaller operators, letting rural families register with a quick notification instead of wrestling through mountains of red tape.
Enter the “Super Licence”
A tiered system is being sought
Perhaps the boldest innovation is the so-called Super Licence. This ambitious idea bundles building permits, guest registration, and operational approval into one neat application. Think of it as the administrative equivalent of an all-you-can-eat buffet. Efficiency isn’t just convenient for a nation welcoming over 35 million international visitors annually; it’s a matter of survival.
The government believes this will reduce bureaucracy and help close tax loopholes, particularly around short-term rentals. Platforms like Airbnb, often seen as the wild west of hospitality, would finally be roped into the corral of formal taxation. Billions of baht in currently lost revenue are at stake.
The Promise of Reform
If enacted (a rather large “if”), the new law could:
-
Legalise and tax short-term rentals.
-
Give rural and family operators a seat at the tourism table.
-
Diversify accommodation types for eco-tourists, wellness travellers and backpackers.
-
Digitise oversight, minimising under-reporting and “creative accounting”.
-
Encourage investment in multi-service hotels through the streamlined licence system.
The reform could supercharge inclusivity, innovation, and much-needed tax revenue.
The Perils of Dilution
Stormy waters ahead for lawmakers
But, as the old saying goes, not every shiny bauble is pure gold. And in Thailand’s hospitality world, some polished promises can quickly lose their lustre. The Thai Hotels Association, never one to hold back, has been waving a bright red flag.
Their grumbles? Well, picture a list longer than a Songkran water fight and just as messy:
-
Cut corners could mean fire escapes that don’t, kitchens that shouldn’t, and health standards best left unmentioned.
-
Hoteliers who’ve invested fortunes in compliance now worry they’ll be undercut by Auntie’s spare room down the soi.
-
The taxman may still struggle to collect his dues in far-flung villages where receipts are written on trust.
-
Middle-tier hotels fear their occupancy rates could dive faster than a cliff-jumping backpacker.
-
In quiet Thai neighbourhoods, the clash between locals and late-night revelry may sour faster than a forgotten som tam.
In other words, your eco-lodge retreat might be someone else’s noisy headache.
The Balancing Act
Officials insist that sustainability and responsibility will be built into the new framework. That’s the official line, anyway. However, without clear enforcement, critics fear the result could be a patchwork of uneven standards and confused investors.
And therein lies the rub: Thailand’s tourism economy is too important to gamble with. This reform could fortify Thailand’s position as Southeast Asia’s hospitality leader. Done poorly, it risks denting hard-won trust and reputation.
As ever in the Kingdom, the devil and the Gazette will be in the detail. Until the law is formally published, travellers, hoteliers, and homestay hosts must live with anticipation and uncertainty. The Accommodation Act is now less a new dawn and more a sunrise hovering below the horizon.
By Andrew J Wood
BIO
A Yorkshireman by birth and a Bangkokian by choice, Andrew J Wood has been exploring Southeast Asia’s hospitality and culinary landscapes since 1991. A seasoned travel writer and hotel reviewer, Andrew brings old-school charm and a deep affection for gracious service to every piece he pens. For him, the perfect Sunday is slow, savoured, and best enjoyed with dessert.
