Thai police close unlicensed hostel on the island of Koh Phangan

Thai troops and police raided a hostel on the popular tourist destination of Koh Pha-Ngan in Surat Thani on Saturday morning and arrested its manager for operating without a proper licence.

Koh Phangan district assistant chiefs Suwit Thongpin and Sutthipong Thongruang led troops and police in checking hostels on the island following complaints that unlicensed premises have been offering cheap accommodation, thus affecting the businesses of licensed hotels and resorts.

The officials found that a hostel called Pha Ngan Arenas was operating without a licence. It has several rooms with double-deck beds and each room can accommodate up to eight tourists who are charged from Bt100 per night.

The officials arrested Thassanee Bangkaew, 31, from Surin, on charges of operating an accommodation business without a licence.

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