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Doors Open for Phuket Beach Vendors: Surin Businesses Offered DIY Demolition
By Chutima Sidasathian Monday, August 25, 2014
PHUKET: The remaining restaurants and beach clubs at Surin have been offered the opportunity for a ''do it yourself'' demolition before the deadline expires at the end of September.
''Better you do it by yourselves,'' said Cherng Talay Mayor Ma-Ann Samran, who opted not to turn the electricity off to the properties last week.
The mayor says he has met with the managers and owners of the businesses who all understand that as public land, the properties must be returned to their natural state.
Clearances along many of Phuket's best-known west coast beach shores, including Patong, Kamala, Bang Tao, Nai Yang and Nai Harn have reduced the options for tourists.
Managers at nearby five-star resorts at Surin fear the beach will be disadvantaged by further demolitions, which will destroy the reputation built up over many years for good dining on the Surin shorefront.
Mayor Ma-Ann says there will be no return of vendors or sunbeds on Surin beach and no negotiations are in progress. Lay Pang beach, where several large establishments have been demolished, will be cleaned up by the end of the month, he said.
Doors open today and tomorrow at the Kathu district office for Patong beach workers to register to see whether they qualify for a return to the sand.
Authorities have said that they are prepared to consider a special arrangement for exceptionally poor workers to be allowed to operate in a small zoned area on Patong beach.
The compromise is seen as being a potential green light for others to return to the beach on the basis of a ''why them and not us'' argument.
The district offices will be registering workers in three categories: masseuses, sunbed operators and mobile vendors today and tomorrow.
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Comments
Comments have been disabled for this article.
As i earlier reported to PW this compromise was underway in the form of zones. Of course i was ridiculed by editor for expressing this ridiculous idea.
Posted by
Phuket Saviour
on
August 25, 2014 09:18
Editor Comment:
The idea has come from the ''poorest'' vendors, PS, and it is far from the grand compromise you envisaged. It remains an unworkable idea because those who cannot access sunbeds will demand them . . . and the whole ridiculous performance starts all over again. There is no workable compromise. I didn't ridicule you, PS, although as a sensitive and self-interested person you may misinterpret much of what's said.
There are no exceptionally poor beach vendors, and even if there are, they will soon be controlled by exceptionally rich mafia operators. It's the thin end of a very big wedge. Unbelievable that the authorities would start to undo the good work so quickly. they must be mad (or something).
Posted by
phonus
on
August 25, 2014 09:23
.. and the so called small zone will progressively increase until the mess returns.
Posted by
natural beaches
on
August 25, 2014 09:30
Give the so called poor vendors a inch, they will take a mile! They have never been able to follow any rules in the past, why would they start now. The beaches look great all cleaned up, leave them that way
Posted by
Anonymous
on
August 25, 2014 10:15
Why not concentrate on Patong now? I was there yesterday and nearly decapitated by the rope from a parasailer and speedboat with one beach boy running around trying to clear the people out of the way.
There were about 2 or 3 up in the air at any given time. It was extremely dangerous and far from paradise. Also tons of jet skis.
The Surin Beach properties are not posing a danger..
Posted by
Vfaye
on
August 25, 2014 10:26
The unemployment rate in Phuket is very low, maybe zero. I don't have any empathy for these people pleading poverty.
"Managers at nearby five-star resorts at Surin fear the beach will be disadvantaged by further demolitions, which will destroy the reputation built up over many years for good dining on the Surin shorefront." Yes, all these restaurants illegally encroaching on the beach were great. Emphasis on "were".
See ya.
Posted by
Kamalala
on
August 25, 2014 11:00
At this rate of progress, the beaches should be restored in time for next high season in November. I shall visit & see for myself. They will probably never attain their former splendor, but just to be open & clear will be refreshing.
Posted by
Logic
on
August 25, 2014 11:05
Managers on Surin, beach, your opportunity to create great dining experiences. Guests probably walked out of the resorts, because food at the beach clubs was better in terms of quality and price. Beaches are cleared everywhere so you all have even level playing fields wm
Posted by
wm
on
August 25, 2014 12:00
Dear Ed , thought you said yesterday that you were no longer giving your opinion....guess you cant keep your mouth shut after all...no wonder the army is going after you....
Posted by
Pete Smith
on
August 25, 2014 12:04
Editor Comment:
''Phuketwan is changing its policy on comments and the Editor won't be responding so often to readers in future.''
Those were the words I used. The Army . . . the Navy . . . there is a difference, Pete. Best ask your teacher for more after-school help.
I am happy the Sunbeds will come back. This will make tourists happy - Editor, please insert your usual arrogant criticisms in the below space provided.
Posted by
Clark Mason
on
August 25, 2014 13:21
Editor Comment:
It's not my intention to be arrogant, CM. Do you often misinterpret words and actions? As it's your first comment, I should point out that you can speak of sunbeds ''making me happy'' but you may find others don't agree with you. According to a survey taken at another Phuket news outlet, about 85 percent of tourists prefer the beaches without sunbeds.
Ed see you just cant stop running of your big aussie mouth and reporting events inaccurately...I hope the navy keep your passport and shut you down....
Posted by
Pete Smith
on
August 25, 2014 13:57
Editor Comment:
Your second comment is even more pitiful than your first, Pete. Personal insults, wishful thinking . . . waste of time.
Clarke - Mr Ed cant help his arrogant personal views of all current events in Thailand especially Phuket. He seems to have a negative banter with all the readers if their views do not suit his own personal ideas. That is why the Navy has had enough of his rubbish and started the defamitory lawsuit against him. Reading the Phuket wan certainly reports the news the same as the other local websites, but the only reason why I read the articles that Alan writes can only be compared to children reading comics, it is not neccessarily fact but the comments at the end is the main event for me.
Wonder if Alan is going top cover his own court case....cant wait to read it !
Posted by
Pete Smith
on
August 25, 2014 14:14
BTW Ed - do you have any Journalism qualifications or background or did you simply retire to Thailand buy a laptop and create this crap ?
Posted by
Pete Smith
on
August 25, 2014 14:37
Look at Kata the same people are on the same spot they have before and selling beer,food etc and the Police they see this every day and only smiling.
Posted by
Bjorn Ronningen
on
August 25, 2014 14:53
Yep thought so..I knew you would not publish that as it did not suit your views
Posted by
Pete Smith
on
August 25, 2014 15:18
Editor Comment:
Go away, Pete. Please.
@Pete Smith. Pete I feel pitty with you. Your comments are silly, mean & childish provocative.
I highly appreciate PhuketWan for what it has been doing and is doing. Not only in it's General "Phuketnews" (fast / reliable / relevant, detailed & picturised). The Rohingya topic (extortion / abuse / corruption) got its needed international attention partly thanks to attention and the factual coverage from PhuketWan.
I do admire the military for what
is currently happening / changing in Thailand. I admirer General & Prime Minister Prayuth. I will honor 22nd of May 2014 till the end of my days... But in the "Phuketwan" versus the Royal Thai Navy-case a shame on his escutcheon. The navy is to blame and the cause the Army in general! loses a lot of its credibility. It is not the Phuketwan to blame that the army is discredited all over the Globe for its stand against PW. It is the Navy who causes and create this negative spiral of news. It is the Navy (One Captain) who is causing this negative image for the Complete Army. With "his" lawsuit. This lawsuit backfires the honorable instute (Thai Army & Thailand in General). This (minor) lawsuit has more negative impact then all the positive actions. Prime Minister Prayuth Chan-ocha can achieve and be appreciated, applauded & admired for with he did on 22 May 2014. General Pray that proofes to be also good in & have good awareness of "Public Relations". I hope this minor case gets his attention soon. Phuketwan deserves a medal of honor. Not a wipe-out. General Prayuth. Show your power by showing justice and fairness for those who wanted to protect innocent people. No matter where we come from. We are first all Humans.
Posted by
phuketgreed
on
August 25, 2014 16:41
Sorry Ed but I thinck 85% of tourisme staying long time high season want sunbeds and parasols . The most are not young springing chicken who can lay on the ground and backing in the sun .
Posted by
malena
on
August 25, 2014 16:54
Editor Comment:
What tourists want and what Thailand needs are quite different, malena, and always giving tourists what they want has always been wrong.
For the umpteenth time, Ed., sunbeds and umbrellas MUST BE A MUNICIPAL JOB!
Posted by
James
on
August 25, 2014 17:08
Editor Comment:
The problem is that local councils are in charge of local beaches, James, so when their voters seek to use the sand to private advantage, the councils give way. I thought everyone understood that. The councils are not independent and therefore always likely to give in. Besides, there are no sunbeds on the beaches now, and that's the way it should stay. Can you imagine the massive squabbles if there are just a few sunbeds? Can you imagine tourists trying to outbid each other for the privilege of ''owning a sunbed? Can you imagine the angry words and the fist fights? No beds is best. That's what nature intended.
"and always giving tourists what they want has always been wrong". As I understand it tourism is the principal business of Phuket. For any business to be successful it must give its customers what they want so if Phuket wants to be in the tourist business it had better do so too.
Posted by
Phuketandsee
on
August 25, 2014 19:26
Editor Comment:
Tourists should be given what they need, not what they want. Unprofessional divers who come up with a handful of coral have what they want . . . that's not what they need, nor what Thailand needs. Any business that gives tourists what they want without thought should learn to sort right from wrong. Your label is offensive. Clearly, your outlook is well and truly screwed.
Ed, You clearly know nothing about business. For example, how successful would Apple be if they only produced products that people "needed"? No one even knew what an iPhone was before it was introduced. It's now one of the most successful products in history.
Posted by
Phuketandsee
on
August 25, 2014 20:05
Editor Comment:
People did not know about the iPhone before it was introduced so how could it possibly be something they ''wanted''? It was, however, something the Apple engineers decide that the world needed. The very best of luck with your business . . . real life seems to be passing you by.
@Phuketandsee @Ed
It is important to see for global tourism market outlook, that supply is limited, and close to be exhausted in terms of supply of beaches, but demand is growing, and will be growing in any foreseeable perspective , as global economy continues to grow and with it a number of tourists.
Therefore for any meaningful attraction it is not longer a business case of creating and supporting demand, but sustainability - environmental issues and following conservation practices. In many cases it means just decrease of number of visitors on purpose, thus upgrading environment, by or afterward selling for the rest at higher price, and removing/limiting some element of development that brings more comfort stay, but incompatible with sustainability target. Phuket and PhiPhi are clearly in the phase where such efforts urgently need to be udnertaken, and, it seems , they are
Posted by
Sue
on
August 25, 2014 20:28
I have always enjoyed the editors comments. But I am wondering why a newspaper would not report about a potential problem with the Navy. Can we get more information on this issue?
Posted by
Vegas
on
August 25, 2014 20:40
Editor Comment:
Better talk to the newspapers, Vegas. We've reported it fully on Phuketwan.
Here in Phuket for the first time since the changes by the Army. Although I always enjoyed a sunbed I am not unhappy with the changes. The beaches look good, although a bit dirty. Most rubbish though is empty beer bottles etc left from people drinking on the beach the night before. If they really want world class beaches they need to be cleaned often. It is so disappointing seeing the mess a few yobbo tourists can leave. We were enjoying a quite morning on the beach before the flooding rain today and were constantly assaulted by the 2 stroke fumes and noise of jet skis and boats for the parasailers. How can they seriously say the beaches are better with that going on. Still we love it here and await what the future holds. In the interim I am the one most mornings walking Patong Beach tossing bottles up past the high water line to get them out of the water! At least for the next few weeks.
Posted by
Davemc60
on
August 25, 2014 21:26
clark mason i guess you should look up bondi beach manly beach in australia.yes there could be 5000 people lying on the sand.no sunbeds needed. pete smith you sound like a blow in thats came to phuket.please go back home.
Posted by
bondi
on
August 26, 2014 14:18
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As i earlier reported to PW this compromise was underway in the form of zones. Of course i was ridiculed by editor for expressing this ridiculous idea.
Posted by Phuket Saviour on August 25, 2014 09:18
Editor Comment:
The idea has come from the ''poorest'' vendors, PS, and it is far from the grand compromise you envisaged. It remains an unworkable idea because those who cannot access sunbeds will demand them . . . and the whole ridiculous performance starts all over again. There is no workable compromise. I didn't ridicule you, PS, although as a sensitive and self-interested person you may misinterpret much of what's said.