Thailand Unveils Major Tourism Law Reform: What Is The New Accommodation Act To Regulate Hotels, Homestays, Airbnbs And Eco-lodges You Need To Know

Published on September 5, 2025

By: Paramita Sarkar

In a bid to modernize its tourism industry, Thailand has introduced a sweeping betterment done nan new Accommodation Act, marking a important departure from nan Hotel Act of 1994. The new law is designed to reside nan evolving scenery of accommodation options, from accepted hotels to modern-day homestays, luxury villas, and integer platforms for illustration Airbnb. With more than 35 cardinal world arrivals annually, Thailand is taking steps to streamline nan regulatory model and heighten nan value and sustainability of its accommodation offerings.

Who Is Behind nan New Accommodation Act?

The Thai government has taken nan inaugural to betterment nan outdated Hotel Act B.E. 2547 (2004), responding to nan maturation of replacement accommodation models specified arsenic homestays, Airbnb properties, and eco-lodges. The betterment intends to present a modernized regulatory framework that reflects really group recreation today, including integer platforms and unconventional accommodation types. The rule is presently astatine nan draft and consultation stage, nether reappraisal by nan Council of State. It has yet to beryllium formally enacted, pending publication successful nan Royal Gazette, which would officially corroborate its provisions.

What Does nan New Accommodation Act Include?

The caller Accommodation Act will bring respective important changes to Thailand’s tourism regulations, astir notably a broadening of nan meaning of accommodation. Under nan caller law, a assortment of accommodation types—previously unregulated—will now autumn nether charismatic oversight. These include:

• Homestays: Offering a much personal, section acquisition for tourists, particularly successful agrarian and little commercialized areas.
• Airbnb Properties: Legalizing short-term rentals and subjecting them to taxation and registration requirements.
• Eco-Lodges and Rafts: Enabling much sustainable tourism by encouraging nan improvement of eco-friendly accommodations.
• Tents: Aiming to merge each types of lodging, moreover those typically associated pinch outdoor experiences.

A gradual licensing strategy will beryllium introduced, allowing mini operators—such arsenic family-run businesses successful agrarian areas—to registry pinch simplified processes, reducing introduction barriers and fostering inclusivity.

Additionally, nan Super Licence strategy will merge aggregate services nether a azygous approval, which includes building permits, guest registration, and operational licensing. This streamlined attack is expected to trim bureaucracy and amended efficiency, important for Thailand’s bustling tourism sector.

Where Will nan Accommodation Act Have nan Most Impact?

The effect of nan caller Accommodation Act is expected to beryllium felt crossed Thailand’s divers accommodation sector. With tourism being a captious pillar of Thailand’s economy, nan rule will power everything from nan bustling streets of Bangkok to nan serene islands of Phuket and Isan, wherever homestays are becoming much popular. By regulating some ample and mini businesses, including integer platforms for illustration Airbnb, Thailand seeks to create a adjacent playing section for operators crossed nan country.

The caller act’s provisions will besides target nan expanding request for sustainable tourism options, peculiarly successful areas for illustration eco-lodges and quality resorts, which person grown successful fame among eco-conscious travelers. The rule will make it easier for these types of businesses to run wrong nan ineligible framework, boosting their publication to nan country’s economy.

When Will nan New Act Take Effect?

As of early September 2025, nan Accommodation Act has not yet been formally promulgated successful nan Royal Gazette, meaning it is still nether review. The act’s provisions, including nan expanded definitions, gradual licensing, and regularisation of short-term rentals, stay proposals alternatively than enforceable laws. The authorities intends to resoluteness immoderate outstanding concerns and move nan authorities forward, pinch manufacture groups for illustration nan Thai Hotels Association voicing some support and be aware regarding nan changes.

Once enacted, nan reforms are expected to return afloat effect crossed nan country, peculiarly arsenic Thailand’s highest tourism seasons attack successful 2027. The changes will person semipermanent impacts connected really nan state regulates its accommodation sector, improving taxation postulation and enforcement successful a quickly evolving industry.

Why Is Thailand Reforming Its Tourism Laws Now?

The Accommodation Act betterment is simply a consequence to nan increasing diversification of nan world recreation industry. As travelers activity much unsocial and personalized experiences, including staying successful Airbnbs, eco-lodges, and homestays, accepted edifice regulations person go outdated. Thailand’s tourism sector, which draws millions of visitors annually, has not kept gait pinch these changes, resulting successful mislaid taxation gross and unregulated accommodations.

By legalizing short-term rentals and ensuring adjacent taxation policies, Thailand hopes to boost tourism revenue significantly. Additionally, nan authorities intends to make nan manufacture much inclusive by allowing smaller, section operators to thrive, peculiarly successful agrarian and little commercially developed regions.

Moreover, nan Super Licence strategy and nan take of digital systems will modernize nan industry, reducing under-reporting and closing taxation loopholes. With Thailand’s position arsenic a location leader successful tourism, nan caller rule is seen arsenic basal for maintaining nan country’s competitiveness connected nan world stage.

How Will Thailand Balance Growth and Responsibility?

The government’s intent is to beforehand sustainable tourism that benefits some nan system and nan environment. However, critics of nan betterment definitive concerns complete imaginable weaknesses. There is simply a consequence that relaxing introduction standards for mini operators could dilute information and quality, undermining Thailand’s estimation arsenic a reliable tourer destination. In particular, issues for illustration fire safety, health standards, and wide guest safety are of concern.

Additionally, location is nan anticipation of uneven taxation collection, peculiarly successful much distant areas wherever smaller accommodations run extracurricular nan general economy. Some interest that mid-scale hotels whitethorn suffer business to unregulated alternatives, creating unfair competition.

Local communities besides raise concerns astir nan imaginable for noise, disruptions, and cultural dilution arsenic much unregulated accommodations participate residential areas.

Conclusion

Thailand’s caller Accommodation Act promises to reshape nan country’s tourism landscape, bringing it into alignment pinch modern recreation trends and world integer platforms. While nan betterment presents galore opportunities for growth, peculiarly successful eco-tourism and small-scale operations, it must besides reside concerns regarding safety, quality, and taxation compliance. If implemented correctly, nan caller rule could bolster Thailand’s position arsenic a premier recreation destination and amended nan inclusivity of its tourism sector. However, nan occurrence of these reforms will dangle connected their observant enforcement and monitoring, ensuring that nan manufacture evolves successful a responsible and sustainable manner.