Regulation of Online Intermediation Service for Tourism Business

Abstract

          This article examines the regulatory challenges and implications surrounding online intermediation services for tourism businesses, focusing on the case of Thailand. The rapid growth of these modernized platforms connecting local guides and tourists seeking touring and guiding services has questionable issues about their legal classification and liabilities within existing regulatory frameworks.

          The study explores the nature of these modern intermediation platforms and how they may potentially be considered as tourism businesses. Nonetheless, the current definition of "Tourism Business" in Thailand's Tourism Business and Tourist Guide Act B.E. 2551 (2008) does not explicitly encompass online intermediation services for tourism, leading to questions about their legal status and liabilities.

          One key issue is determining whether the existing definition should be broadly interpreted or if specific amendments are required. The article particularly examines the ambiguity surrounding the joint liability of online intermediation service providers or business entrepreneurs when tourists encounter issues during trips arranged through their platforms. It suggests that addressing this legal uncertainty requires amending existing tourism laws to explicitly include these modern businesses and establish a regulatory framework, promoting growth while, ensuring protection for tourists and fair business practices.