HUA HIN — One of Thailand’s most famous tourist destinations, Hua Hin, is being transformed from a ‘municipality’ in Prachuap Khiri Khan Province to a ‘township’ in order to become a special tourist city.
Over the years, Hua Hin has experienced rapid economic and social growth. The municipality covers an area of 86.36 square kilometers and comprises two sub-districts: Hua Hin and Nong Kae, with a registered population of 62,454 (as of August 2023).
As a popular destination for domestic and international tourists, the town’s growth has brought with it numerous challenges, including a large unregistered population.
Due to these challenges, the Hua Hin Municipal Council decided on August 11, 2023 to change the town’s status from a “municipality” to a “township”,” which is scheduled to come into effect on March 28, 2025.
Prachachart Business interviewed Nopporn Wutthikul, the mayor of Hua Hin, or “Mayor Nui”,” about his plans for the future. He expressed a desire to enact special laws to strengthen the city’s autonomous administration and envisioned Hua Hin as a “special administrative city” similar to Pattaya.
Legal Restriction Hurdles
Mayor Nui explained that despite ongoing development efforts, becoming a municipality in March 2025 would not fully meet the demands of the population. To solve this problem, the Hua Hin Municipality has teamed up with the Thammasat College Research Institute to study the possibility of becoming a “special local administrative organization” with the aim of transforming Hua Hin into a “special tourist town” – a happy destination and a global center of relaxation.
However, Hua Hin is currently facing administrative challenges, particularly with budgeting and legal constraints. These problems, he said, resemble “one-size-fits-all” solutions that do not fit Hua Hin’s unique circumstances. The nationwide uniform regulations have hindered the town’s potential and slowed tourism development despite its natural assets.
Under the current municipal status, Hua Hin is heavily dependent on central government support for budget planning, project approval and tourism policy. The lack of autonomy limits the municipality’s ability to respond quickly to challenges and opportunities. This has led to delays in important projects, such as the development of a skywalk on Hin Lek Fai Hill to attract more tourists and generate revenue for the country.
Planning for several initiatives is already underway, but many projects are currently on hold due to legal hurdles.
In addition, Hua Hin has traditionally hosted tourist events such as the “Huahin Jazz Festival”, which was once a popular event attracting jazz fans from all over the world. However, restrictions on alcohol sales in public places, including the beaches, have impacted such events. Even with special permits, the sale of alcohol was not allowed, limiting the festival’s potential and reducing tourism revenue.
If the legal restrictions can be eased, it would greatly benefit tourism promotion, attract more visitors and boost the local economy.
The city’s infrastructure is also struggling to cope with the growing number of tourists. Among the biggest challenges are waste disposal, sewage treatment and traffic congestion during the high season. Environmental problems such as coastal erosion have also affected the beauty of the beaches and the quality of the seawater. For the future, the municipality needs to find a balance between the management of natural resources and the sustainable development of infrastructure.
In addition, the rapid growth of tourism has increased the demand for quality service personnel. However, training programs for the hospitality industry remain inadequate, especially to meet the expectations of international visitors who are accustomed to global standards of service.
Special Administrative City Status
Once Hua Hin becomes a municipality, there will be significant changes, especially in terms of administration and development potential. The city will have greater autonomy in decision-making, resource management and budgeting, allowing it to better respond to local needs. This independence will allow for more efficient planning and problem solving, particularly in attracting investment and improving infrastructure.
The upgraded status will also support Hua Hin’s ambition to become a world-class tourist destination. The community will be able to implement large-scale public service projects, including mass transit systems, waste management solutions and environmental protection initiatives.
Mayor Nui stated that he would like Hua Hin to eventually become a “special administrative city” dedicated to tourism. Thammasat College’s research team recently held public consultations with representatives from academia, business, private organizations, civic groups and local leaders to examine the economic, social and environmental aspects of this change.
If Hua Hin were granted special administrative status, the city would have more flexibility and powers to better respond to the needs of residents. This would require the passing of a special law, probably a royal decree, to improve the city’s administration and operational efficiency.
An important aspect of the plan is to give the municipality control over its beaches so that it is able to organize high-profile events, such as the internationally renowned “Hua Hin Jazz Festival”.
In 2023, the province of Prachuap Khiri Khan generated 44.24 billion baht in tourism revenue, of which over 70 percent came from Hua Hin. The Thai tourism industry is expected to recover further in 2024. The Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) is aiming to generate up to 3.5 trillion baht in tourism revenue nationwide, from which cities such as Hua Hin will benefit significantly.
The transformation into a municipality and plans to establish Hua Hin as a Special Administrative City will play a crucial role in increasing its global tourism appeal. With improved infrastructure, services and administration, Hua Hin will become a major international tourism center.
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