What Happened To Foreign Ownership Rule Change?
Last year there was much optimism in the hotel sector back of the ASEAN Economic Community guidelines for sweeping ownership reforms what would provide majority control of hotel investments in the country.
While Thailand has formally committed to this to be implemented by 2015, there is word the Board of Investments is looking to spur the service industry.
Currently in the service sector foreign investment is limited to 49% and will be raised to 70% under the ASEAN initiative. Land ownership for hotels owned by overseas interests remains a contentious issue.
Liberalization of the hotel investment sector and related service industry would spur growth in what is now becoming an increasingly domestic dominated playing field.
For now eyes are on the BoI on when and how initiatives will be introduced.