PHUKET: A new zone where jet-skis can operate has been created at Naka Island, off Phuket, Phuripat Theerakulpisut, Chief of Phuket's Marine Office 5, told a key tourism meeting yesterday.
This makes seven jet-ski zones on popular beaches on and around Phuket at a time when honorary consuls and tourism industry leaders are questioning whether jet-skis should be allowed on Phuket.
The revelation of the new zone came at a meeting yesterday at Provincial Hall in Phuket City with tourism industry leaders, police and administrators looking in detail at rip-offs, transport and other issues seen as harming tourism.
Khun Phuripat had neglected to mention the new zone for jet-skis when questioned at a meeting earlier in the week about his plans to deal with illegal jet-skis now operating at Phuket's Surn and Laem Sing beaches.
He told the meeting yesterday: ''I am happy with what I am doing. I think I am quite successful in controlling the numbers of the jet-skis.''
Khun Phuripat told the gathering that there were now 286 jet-skis on Phuket, up from the 219 listed when Phuket's Governor Udomsak gave them seven years to be phased out eight years ago.
He said that of those jet-skis, 67 remained illegal but that he was confident he could have all the jet-skis in the system by extending the time limit to July, 2013.
Creation of the Naka Zone involved allowing 15 jet-skis to operate there, he said.
Earlier in the week, honorary consuls Larry Cunningham (Australia) and Martin Carpenter (Britain) urged proper controls of jet-skis. Mr Cunningham said that the thuggery and intimidation continued on Phuket's beaches, especially at Patong.
Thai Hotels Association representative Dhumikit Rakteanang said it was time to ask Phuket's beach businesses and and hotel managers whether Phuket needed jet-skis.
''Let's ask everybody how many jet-skis Phuket should have,'' he said. ''Everybody is affected by the damage these jet-skis do to Phuket's reputation, yet only a few people have a say in their future.
''Many people don't want them. Most people come to Phuket for peace and quiet. Only a small number of tourists use the jet-skis.''
Tritrang was another beach where jet-skis were not zoned, yet they were there, he said.
Khun Phuripat said that the maximum payout under jet-ski insurance was 200,000 baht but Colonel Panya Jansomwong, Deputy Superintendent at Kathu Police Station, which oversees Patong, said it was actually 50,000 baht.
''The problem is they (the jet-ski operators) mediate themselves on the beaches,'' Colonel Paya said. ''There have been 14 cases that have been taken to police to mediate so far this year,'' he said.
The key issue was often not whether there was insurance. Problems arose when jet-ski operators demanded extra cash for the time the jet-skis would be out of the water, often amounting to 3000 baht a day or more, he said.
Khun Phuripat said that three jet-skis registered in another province that had been operating at Bang Tao had been refused registration on Phuket.
When the well-attended meeting was asked by the Chairman of the Standing Committee on Tourism in the Senate, Tunyaratt Achariyachai, who would take responsibility for future issues involving jet-skis, Khun Phuripat raised his hand.
This makes seven jet-ski zones on popular beaches on and around Phuket at a time when honorary consuls and tourism industry leaders are questioning whether jet-skis should be allowed on Phuket.
The revelation of the new zone came at a meeting yesterday at Provincial Hall in Phuket City with tourism industry leaders, police and administrators looking in detail at rip-offs, transport and other issues seen as harming tourism.
Khun Phuripat had neglected to mention the new zone for jet-skis when questioned at a meeting earlier in the week about his plans to deal with illegal jet-skis now operating at Phuket's Surn and Laem Sing beaches.
He told the meeting yesterday: ''I am happy with what I am doing. I think I am quite successful in controlling the numbers of the jet-skis.''
Khun Phuripat told the gathering that there were now 286 jet-skis on Phuket, up from the 219 listed when Phuket's Governor Udomsak gave them seven years to be phased out eight years ago.
He said that of those jet-skis, 67 remained illegal but that he was confident he could have all the jet-skis in the system by extending the time limit to July, 2013.
Creation of the Naka Zone involved allowing 15 jet-skis to operate there, he said.
Earlier in the week, honorary consuls Larry Cunningham (Australia) and Martin Carpenter (Britain) urged proper controls of jet-skis. Mr Cunningham said that the thuggery and intimidation continued on Phuket's beaches, especially at Patong.
Thai Hotels Association representative Dhumikit Rakteanang said it was time to ask Phuket's beach businesses and and hotel managers whether Phuket needed jet-skis.
''Let's ask everybody how many jet-skis Phuket should have,'' he said. ''Everybody is affected by the damage these jet-skis do to Phuket's reputation, yet only a few people have a say in their future.
''Many people don't want them. Most people come to Phuket for peace and quiet. Only a small number of tourists use the jet-skis.''
Tritrang was another beach where jet-skis were not zoned, yet they were there, he said.
Khun Phuripat said that the maximum payout under jet-ski insurance was 200,000 baht but Colonel Panya Jansomwong, Deputy Superintendent at Kathu Police Station, which oversees Patong, said it was actually 50,000 baht.
''The problem is they (the jet-ski operators) mediate themselves on the beaches,'' Colonel Paya said. ''There have been 14 cases that have been taken to police to mediate so far this year,'' he said.
The key issue was often not whether there was insurance. Problems arose when jet-ski operators demanded extra cash for the time the jet-skis would be out of the water, often amounting to 3000 baht a day or more, he said.
Khun Phuripat said that three jet-skis registered in another province that had been operating at Bang Tao had been refused registration on Phuket.
When the well-attended meeting was asked by the Chairman of the Standing Committee on Tourism in the Senate, Tunyaratt Achariyachai, who would take responsibility for future issues involving jet-skis, Khun Phuripat raised his hand.
Jet ski control delayed (July 2013) is jet ski control denied
Posted by Anonymous on March 1, 2012 10:47