PHUKET: Phuket's jet-ski and parasail operators are likely to be told this week that can no longer use Patong beach - and the same ban will apply to all the vendors who are still selling to customers on the sand.
That's the conclusion drawn by Phuketwan's reporter after a two-hour private meeting at Phuket Provincial Hall today, called by Governor Maitree Intrusud.
The media was excluded from the meeting.
The next few days could be testing for everyone. Vendors and jet-ski operators at Patong are likely to learn that, like vendors at other Phuket beaches, all commercial activity is being officially banned.
To continue to operate, jet-ski businesses may need to move offshore to pontoons - a suggestion put forward several years ago by Phuketwan to lower the risk of crashes involving increasing numbers of swimmers close to shore.
Little was being said officially after today's top-level meeting.
But Governor Maitree did say that Labor Office staff will be available to offer retraining to those who wish to learn new skills, and that a small daily payment comes with the studies.
Thai Hotels Association (Southern Region) President Kritsada Tansaku also aims to ask Phuket's resorts to look at employing beach vendors where possible. Some may need to utilise ''beach guardians'' when resort guests leave possessions with their towels on the beaches.
Sunbeds and umbrellas are already totally banned on Phuket beaches and restaurants are in the process of being demolished along all west coast shorefronts.
The future of the jet-skis and parasail speedboats will not be known for certain until talks are held with the chief of Phuket's Marine Office 5, Phuripat Theerakulpisut. The Marine 5 chief was not at today's meeting. Marine Office 5 registers vessels and controls all waters off Phuket.
On some beaches - including those overseen especially by Cherng Talay Mayor Ma-Ann Samran, who was at today's meeting - vendors have already been banned.
Vendors have been allowed to continue to work at Patong but only if they are mobile and do not attempt to reestablish stalls. More than 400 stalls were razed in recent clearances ordered by the National Council for Peace and Order, which has been in charge of Thailand since a military coup on May 22..
Scores of vendors greeted Patong Mayor Chalermlak Kebsub recently when she walked the beach with soldiers to make sure everyone understood that the stalls had to go.
Various working groups from Phuket's beaches attended a seminar for 300 people at Prince of Songkhla University last week and will return there on August 10 to compile a document recording the views of focus groups for a document that they aim to send directly to the NCPO.
No representative from the Phuket administration went to the first seminar. Given the importance of the August 10 gathering, that mistake is not likely to be repeated.
That's the conclusion drawn by Phuketwan's reporter after a two-hour private meeting at Phuket Provincial Hall today, called by Governor Maitree Intrusud.
The media was excluded from the meeting.
The next few days could be testing for everyone. Vendors and jet-ski operators at Patong are likely to learn that, like vendors at other Phuket beaches, all commercial activity is being officially banned.
To continue to operate, jet-ski businesses may need to move offshore to pontoons - a suggestion put forward several years ago by Phuketwan to lower the risk of crashes involving increasing numbers of swimmers close to shore.
Little was being said officially after today's top-level meeting.
But Governor Maitree did say that Labor Office staff will be available to offer retraining to those who wish to learn new skills, and that a small daily payment comes with the studies.
Thai Hotels Association (Southern Region) President Kritsada Tansaku also aims to ask Phuket's resorts to look at employing beach vendors where possible. Some may need to utilise ''beach guardians'' when resort guests leave possessions with their towels on the beaches.
Sunbeds and umbrellas are already totally banned on Phuket beaches and restaurants are in the process of being demolished along all west coast shorefronts.
The future of the jet-skis and parasail speedboats will not be known for certain until talks are held with the chief of Phuket's Marine Office 5, Phuripat Theerakulpisut. The Marine 5 chief was not at today's meeting. Marine Office 5 registers vessels and controls all waters off Phuket.
On some beaches - including those overseen especially by Cherng Talay Mayor Ma-Ann Samran, who was at today's meeting - vendors have already been banned.
Vendors have been allowed to continue to work at Patong but only if they are mobile and do not attempt to reestablish stalls. More than 400 stalls were razed in recent clearances ordered by the National Council for Peace and Order, which has been in charge of Thailand since a military coup on May 22..
Scores of vendors greeted Patong Mayor Chalermlak Kebsub recently when she walked the beach with soldiers to make sure everyone understood that the stalls had to go.
Various working groups from Phuket's beaches attended a seminar for 300 people at Prince of Songkhla University last week and will return there on August 10 to compile a document recording the views of focus groups for a document that they aim to send directly to the NCPO.
No representative from the Phuket administration went to the first seminar. Given the importance of the August 10 gathering, that mistake is not likely to be repeated.
Jet Skis will be allowed to remain guaranteed and confirmed.
Posted by ciaran on August 4, 2014 23:07