PHUKET: Drugs tests carried out in a surpise raid on Patong beach jet-ski operators found some testing negative, Colonel Panya Chaichana told a meeting yesterday.
And the level of competence of speedboat ''captains'' and crews returning to Phuket with day-trip tourist passengers remained a concern, he said.
After yesterday's regular two-weekly tourism meeting with Governor Maitree Intrusud at Phuket Provincial Hall in Phuket City, Marine Police raided jet-ski operators at Kata beach.
None of the Kata jet-ski operators tested positive, Colonel Panya told Phuketwan late yesterday.
The battle for space at Patong beach continues, with Colonel Panya suggesting that after a parasail speedboat crashed with a jet-ski, the speedboats should move further out.
''It's too dangerous for tourists in the water when they operate close to the beach,'' he said. ''There should be a specific zone for parasailers on Patong beach.''
Chief of Phuket's Marine 5, Phuripat Theerakulpisut, told the meeting that zoning the parasailers could not be achieved.
It has been suggested that jet-skis could operate from pontoons offshore. So far that idea has also been dismissed.
In describing two recent incidents involving jet-skis, Khun Phuripat said that in the first, an Australian tourist was ''showing off to the girls'' when he overturned and sank a jet-ski at Karon.
In the second incident, a Chinese tourist was injured at Patong and the Governor visited the man in hospital with a basket of fruit, Khun Phuripat said.
Colonel Panya suggested that jet-ski operators should accompany tourists when they go for a ride, but Khun Phuripat said that would restrict the tourists when they wanted to have fun.
Governor Maitree noted that the British Embassy was backing a water safety summit, to be held on Phuket next month.
Meanwhile, Kathu Director Veera Kerdsirimongkol has met with local councils and village leaders in his bid to clear 400 metres of Patong beach of loungers, jet-ski operators, parasailers and vendors.
He said there were no comments when the proposal was put at a meeting this week.
''Just in case people were uncomfortable voicing their opinions at the meeting, I plan to send letters to them all so their endorsements are in written form,'' he said.
He is also considering a survey of tourists and their wishes, to be conducted by Prince of Songkhla University.
And the level of competence of speedboat ''captains'' and crews returning to Phuket with day-trip tourist passengers remained a concern, he said.
After yesterday's regular two-weekly tourism meeting with Governor Maitree Intrusud at Phuket Provincial Hall in Phuket City, Marine Police raided jet-ski operators at Kata beach.
None of the Kata jet-ski operators tested positive, Colonel Panya told Phuketwan late yesterday.
The battle for space at Patong beach continues, with Colonel Panya suggesting that after a parasail speedboat crashed with a jet-ski, the speedboats should move further out.
''It's too dangerous for tourists in the water when they operate close to the beach,'' he said. ''There should be a specific zone for parasailers on Patong beach.''
Chief of Phuket's Marine 5, Phuripat Theerakulpisut, told the meeting that zoning the parasailers could not be achieved.
It has been suggested that jet-skis could operate from pontoons offshore. So far that idea has also been dismissed.
In describing two recent incidents involving jet-skis, Khun Phuripat said that in the first, an Australian tourist was ''showing off to the girls'' when he overturned and sank a jet-ski at Karon.
In the second incident, a Chinese tourist was injured at Patong and the Governor visited the man in hospital with a basket of fruit, Khun Phuripat said.
Colonel Panya suggested that jet-ski operators should accompany tourists when they go for a ride, but Khun Phuripat said that would restrict the tourists when they wanted to have fun.
Governor Maitree noted that the British Embassy was backing a water safety summit, to be held on Phuket next month.
Meanwhile, Kathu Director Veera Kerdsirimongkol has met with local councils and village leaders in his bid to clear 400 metres of Patong beach of loungers, jet-ski operators, parasailers and vendors.
He said there were no comments when the proposal was put at a meeting this week.
''Just in case people were uncomfortable voicing their opinions at the meeting, I plan to send letters to them all so their endorsements are in written form,'' he said.
He is also considering a survey of tourists and their wishes, to be conducted by Prince of Songkhla University.
It is always enlightening to read what K. Phuripat has to say.
His comments certainly answer a lot more questions than he is presented with.
Posted by ThaiMike on September 4, 2013 10:15