Illegal Lao Tour Group Arrested at Nong Khai Border

Thansettakij•Economy•6d ago

Reader Briefing

Authorities arrested a Laotian woman for operating an illegal tour group for Laotian tourists in Thailand without a licensed local operator.

•A Laotian woman was arrested at the Nong Khai border crossing on August 20, 2026.
•The woman was leading a group of Laotian tourists to Khao Kho District, Phetchabun Province.
•The woman was hired by a well-known tour company in Laos but did not use a licensed Thai land operator.
•The arrest was a joint operation between the Department of Tourism, Tourist Police, and Nong Khai provincial authorities.

Overview

•On August 20, 2026, authorities conducted an operation at the Nong Khai border crossing.
•Officers found a Laotian woman leading a group of Laotian tourists toward Khao Kho District, Phetchabun Province.
•The Laotian woman was operating a tour in Thailand without a legal tour business license, having been hired by a tour company in Laos.
•Authorities charged the Laotian woman under Section 15 and Section 80 of the Tourism Business and Guide Act 2008.
•The legal penalty for this offense is imprisonment not exceeding 2 years, a fine not exceeding 500,000 baht, or both.
•Chaturon Pakdeewanich, Director General of the Department of Tourism, emphasized that foreign tour operators must comply with Thai law.
•The Department of Tourism stated that foreign operators should coordinate through licensed Thai tour operators to ensure standards and tourist protection.

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Key Entities

Person

Chaturon Pakdeewanich(จาตุรนต์ ภักดีวานิช)

Director General of the Department of Tourism.

Organization

Department of Tourism(กรมการท่องเที่ยว)

The government agency responsible for overseeing tourism businesses and guides.

Office of Tourism Business and Guide Registration, Northeast Region Branch 2(สำนักงานทะเบียนธุรกิจนำเที่ยวและมัคคุเทศก์ สาขาภาคตะวันออกเฉียงเหนือ เขต 2)

The regional office that reported the illegal tour operation.

Tourist Police (S.T.T. 5 Kok 1 Bok T.T. 2)(ตำรวจท่องเที่ยว (ส.ทท.5 กก.1 บก.ทท.2))

The police unit involved in the border operation.

Nong Khai Provincial Office of Tourism and Sports(สำนักงานการท่องเที่ยวและกีฬาจังหวัดหนองคาย)

The provincial office that participated in the operation at the border.

Place

Nong Khai Border Crossing(ด่านพรมแดนหนองคาย)

The location where the illegal tour group was intercepted.

Khao Kho District(อำเภอเขาค้อ)ℹ️

The destination the Laotian tourists were being led to.

Phetchabun Province(จังหวัดเพชรบูรณ์)ℹ️

The province where Khao Kho District is located.

Lao PDR(สปป.ลาว)ℹ️

The country where the tour company that hired the arrested woman is located.

Law

Tourism Business and Guide Act 2008(พระราชบัญญัติธุรกิจนำเที่ยวและมัคคุเทศก์ พ.ศ. 2551)

The law under which the Laotian woman was charged for operating without a license.