In February, more than a thousand unlicensed hotels applied for registration as hotels after a two-month ultimatum was issued at the end of November last year by then Phuket Governor Chokchai Dejamornthan.

“We inspected the ‘Boomerang Hotel’ and ‘Capitano Hotel’ in Patong on Wednesday and found that that they were operating without a hotel business licence,” said Jirawat.

Both owners were charged for illegally operating a hotel business. The case is being followed up by the Phuket Provincial Administration Office.

“We want hotel owners to be 100 per cent transparent in their operations. Administration officials will continue to crack down on any hotels operating illegally,” said the chief.