PHUKET, Feb 26 (TNA) – Phuket, a popular tourist destination and expatriate hub, is seeing a surge in unlicensed nurseries operated by foreign nationals, prompting a police investigation.
The post-COVID tourism boom has fueled a rapid expansion of businesses catering to foreigners, particularly Russians, who represent a significant portion of the island’s long-term residents.
While some foreigners run legal businesses, many illegally operate Thai-reserved businesses, both openly and using Thai nominees, catering primarily to their own nationals.
Among these, nurseries catering exclusively to foreign children have become increasingly popular. Despite the possibility of obtaining legal permits, numerous foreigners, predominantly Russians, are allegedly running illegal nurseries across Phuket.
Satjaphon Thongsom, Vice Chairman of the Phuket Chamber of Commerce, suggests some nurseries may be fronts for soliciting foreign donations, falsely claiming funds are for childcare.
Investigations reveal these nurseries are concentrated in expatriate-heavy areas like Chalong, Rawai, and Cherngtalay, often near international schools, operating from rented properties.
Residents in a Chalong housing development have complained about a noisy Russian-operated nursery, citing community rule violations. They’ve petitioned authorities to investigate all Phuket nurseries and address the issue of daily house rentals by foreigners.
The Phuket Provincial Police Commander confirmed receiving these complaints and stated that preliminary investigations indicate 20-30 illegal nurseries may exist. Authorities are gathering evidence and plan to take swift action against these unlicensed facilities. – 819 (TNA)
