Tourism News

Tourism News Phuketwan Tourism News
facebook recommendations

NEWS ALERTS

Sign up now for our News Alert emails and the latest breaking news plus new features.

Click to subscribe

Existing subscribers can unsubscribe here

RSS FEEDS

Lifeguards say goodbye to a Phuket beach as erosion claims the sands

Monsoon Makes Phuket's Beaches Dangerous: Lifeguards Seek Help From Resorts

Wednesday, June 17, 2015
PHUKET: Lifeguards on Phuket are appealing to resorts around the holiday island to warn guests not to swim at beaches as the onset of the monsoon season creates unseen dangers.

More red flags than ever before have been placed along Phuket's prized west coast beaches, a spokesperson for the Phuket Lifeguard Service, which provides year-round safety patrols, said today.

''We hope the island's resorts will join us in warning people not to swim,'' the spokesperson said.

''This is the most dangerous time of the year. If people reach the beach determined to swim, it's sometimes difficult for lifeguards to prevent them going in.''

Some parts of Patong and Kata beaches remain clear for swimmers as long as they go into the water between the red-and-yellow flags that define patrolled areas.

Beach erosion is also evident at places along the popular coast, with ''cliffs'' now evident at Mai Khao and Bang Tao. The strongest waves are possibly at Nai Thon, where only the bravest of surfers would venture in at this time of the year.

The next few weeks are also expected to see damage wrought to walls along the Phuket coast. Lifeguards are urging resorts to warn guests to swim at this time of the year only in resort pools.

Comments

Comments have been disabled for this article.

gravatar

If you were going to write a book about how to ruin a beautiful tropical island, Phuket would serve as the perfect example.

Unchecked development, public lands stolen by developers and resort owners in corrupt deals with officials, no public transport, no waste management planning, no water planing, local transport dominated by gangs of thugs who set their own prices, beaches given over to private business by corrupt rent-seeking officials, jet ski extortionists freely operating on public beaches, greasy handed touts harassing tourists on every street, etc etc etc etc etc...

Then we have the laws for some and the laws for others, like when is the Tiger disco fire trial going to start?

Posted by Arun Muruga on June 17, 2015 13:06

gravatar

Don't worry Arun.. Phuket already is facing the result of his greed. Business are closing everywhere except the mega store for chineses that make more rich the richest. Guesthouse and houses bought by loan are coming back to the bank because the owners starting not pay the installments. Workers are fired. And we are only in June and the low season is very very long.. an other 5 months.. And next season will be worst: garbage is present everywhere in Phuket and the air smelling. Nothing like this only 3-4 years ago when tourist hit the peak. Now there is only a "non soft" landing.

Posted by dave on June 17, 2015 15:04

gravatar

Phuket beaches are public beaches, nothing to do with resorts. I doubt or a hotel/resort tourist takes 'no swim' advice from a hotel receptionist, and leaflets in rooms will be ignored.
It is the particular job of the beach guards to convince tourists not to swim. If beach guards patrol better, sit lesser in shadow sheltered 'hang outs', than it will all work out fine.
Resorts have their own pool guards and take also care their own safety business.

Posted by Kurt on June 17, 2015 15:39

Editor Comment:

Much better to have guests told what to expect before they reach the beach than leave it until they are in swimming gear, and determined to enjoy their beach holiday. Some resorts do take responsibility for guests' safety by warning them in advance. The resorts are, after all, responsible for enticing tourists to come to Phuket all year round, whether it's great for swimming or not. The role of the lifeguards is to make sure that people who swim between the safety flags are properly protected.

gravatar

I agree dave.
Swimmers? Are there any? The island is virtually empty. The lifeguards won't be too busy as there's hardly anybody here. And with the rains falling incessantly now, who goes to the beach?

Posted by jimbo34 on June 17, 2015 15:41

Editor Comment:

People who have paid for a seaside holiday generally insist at some point in swimming, if that's what they've been led to believe they could do. The island is far from being ''virtually empty.''

gravatar

That's what authorities explain in media in Europe about safe conduct while swimming:

"Always swim with a care.

It is suggested not to swim at night or at twilight, especially in unfamiliar waters, as well as under the influence of alcohol.

Kids near the water should be not left unsupervised even for a moment."

Everything clear, brief and to the point.
And they keep repeating it through the summer.

Shouldn't Phuket authorities do the same, in various languages..?

Posted by Sue on June 20, 2015 05:27


Friday March 29, 2024
Horizon Karon Beach Resort & Spa

FOLLOW PHUKETWAN

Facebook Twitter