PATTAYA, Thailand – Pattaya’s tourism and hospitality sector is grappling with a severe labor shortage amid a booming recovery, with high earnings drawing increased numbers of illegal migrant workers seeking opportunities in the city’s bustling resorts, hotels, and entertainment venues.

Industry insiders report that while businesses are experiencing strong returns following the reopening of international tourism, many are struggling to fill vacancies due to stricter immigration controls and the COVID-era exodus of foreign workers. This labor gap has led some employers and migrants alike to resort to informal or illegal channels to meet demand.

In a stark illustration of the ongoing issue, on the night of July 17, authorities executed a major crackdown on illegal immigration near the Thai-Cambodian border in Sa Kaeo province, seizing 38 individuals attempting to enter Thailand clandestinely. The operation was led by Colonel Chainarong Kasee, commander of the Aranyaprathet task force.

The arrested group included 25 people caught in a sugarcane field near Kud Hin village, Aranyaprathet district, comprising 20 Cambodian nationals—including one child—and 5 Thai nationals. Investigations revealed that most Cambodian migrants were former workers in Thailand who had returned home but faced unemployment and lack of income. They paid between 2,500 and 4,000 baht each to re-enter Thailand to seek work in Bangkok, eastern provinces, and tourist hotspots like Pattaya.

Meanwhile, the Thai nationals apprehended were mostly workers returning from Cambodia, forced to pay higher fees—between 3,500 and 6,000 baht—to the smuggling networks.

Further arrests included 10 Thai individuals traveling on foot through sugarcane fields to re-enter Thailand after working as administrators for online gambling websites in Poipet, Cambodia. Due to lack of proper travel documents, they resorted to crossing via natural border routes.

In another instance, three Thai nationals attempting to cross illegally into Cambodia for construction jobs were also detained near Nongprue village, Sakaeo.

Authorities have emphasized that all detainees will undergo thorough interrogation to uncover larger smuggling networks and will face legal prosecution accordingly.
The recent bust highlights the ongoing challenges Pattaya and the surrounding eastern provinces face in securing a reliable and legal workforce to support the tourism rebound, as well as the security risks posed by illegal crossings.

Local officials and business leaders continue to call for comprehensive solutions, including streamlined legal work permits and international cooperation, to ensure Pattaya’s hospitality industry can sustainably recover without resorting to illegal labor sources.

The Indigenous Tourism Association of Canada (ITAC) is entering a new chapter, and it’s one fuelled by stability, ambition, and a $35 million-a-year investment. 

Backed by a seven-year Social Impact Funding, ITAC’s newly-released 2025-2026 Operational Plan outlines the organization’s goals: to strengthen Indigenous tourism businesses and elevate Canada’s standing as a global leader in authentic Indigenous travel experiences. 

“This funding truly is life-changing for our industry. You always have to find sustainability and we haven’t been able to bring that sense of stability to Indigenous tourism. This is life-changing because it gives us seven years of stability that we can advance and continue to build,” Keith Henry, president and CEO of ITAC, told Now Toronto on Thursday. 

The plan arrives at a critical moment since the Indigenous tourism sector was hit hard by the pandemic. 

In 2018, the sector contributed $1.7 billion to Canada’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP) and by 2023, that number had dropped by 24 per cent, according to ITAC.

The association’s goal is to reverse that trajectory and by 2030, the organization hopes to support 2,700 businesses, create 60,000 jobs, and contribute $6 billion annually to Canada’s GDP. 

To get there, ITAC is investing in key areas that include $6 million in marketing (both international and domestic), $8 million in business support, $5 million in workforce development for on-the-job training and wage subsidies, and $3 million to support provincial and territorial Indigenous tourism organizations. 

The plan also includes $1.8 million to expand the International Indigenous Tourism Conference and $1 million to launch a new Indigenous Tourism Heritage Fund focused on supporting large-scale projects.

But for Henry, it’s not just about numbers. It’s about positioning Canada as a global leader in Indigenous tourism — something he believes the country is ready for.

“Canada, although we have some great Indigenous-owned businesses, we’re not there yet,” he said. “But we feel that prioritizing these areas will certainly help that.”

The demand, he adds, is already there, both from Canadians and tourists.

“We did survey work and… it was like eight out of 10 Canadians genuinely support reconciliation and want to come experience Indigenous culture,” Henry said. 

“The demand has risen domestically. It’s rising internationally. And I really feel that Canada can be a global leader as an Indigenous destination which is not known well enough yet, not only within Canada, but to the world. So, I think that this gives us a chance to really show what we can do for the next seven years.”

The new funding model also gives ITAC more flexibility to engage directly with international markets, especially in the U.S., where Henry says demand for Indigenous experiences is rising fast.

“We know at least one in three Americans want to add an Indigenous experience when they visit Canada. We can now invest more heavily in more direct marketing in the U.S.,” he said.

Despite global uncertainties, including U.S. tariffs, Henry remains optimistic. 

“We just gotta rise… just be positive… We know that U.S. citizens love to come to Canada and want to add Indigenous experiences,” he said.

Looking ahead, ITAC also hopes to leverage upcoming global events, such as the 2026 FIFA World Cup, to elevate the visibility of Indigenous tourism on the world stage.

“To really be a player at these international events, you have to be able to invest in marketing… Those are going to be another opportunity for us.”

He encourages Canadians to learn more at destinationindigenous.ca, which showcases Indigenous tourism businesses and experiences from coast-to-coast.

“We’ve been working hard for many, many years to build Indigenous tourism experiences, and now we’re finally going to be able to continue to elevate them.”