Hope this will work but I'm afraid that it will not. The problem is that when tourist arrive after a long year of work they don't like to be told not to swim. They booked, they paid and now they want to do it. I think the tour operators in their home countries bear some responsibility as well, to inform their customers!

Posted by Phuket on August 11, 2010 14:42

Phuket Governor with local officials and Marine Police may make a law to prohibit swimming when sea is dangerous.
Day per day a committee may decide for that coming day if swimmers are allowed to swim in the sea.
Marine Police which is officially in charge of sea accident should be present on all beaches and charge irresponsible crazy swimmers with a 1000 Baht fine.
As 30% of all fines in Thailand goes directly to law-enforcers (Chuan Leepkai's law), it may be given to rescue centers to improve local rescuer's training.

Posted by Whistle-Blower on August 11, 2010 16:30

Why can't warnings start with before they (tourists) leave their desitnation>? Why does it have to start here, again, money. Why let the tourist start their trip, sometimes many of hours, but then you tell them the sea conditions.

They don't have to tell the clients about rabies if they are are not going there! Tell the clients about where they are going, Phuket???

Posted by Lee on August 11, 2010 16:44

A step in the right direction. The tourists are properly warned but fining them for going into the water is not realistic. The roads are dangerous as well, lets fine people for driving on the roads while we are at it. The fact is that thousands of people swim during monsoon season and live to tell about it. The responsibility ultimately falls on the individual. How about renting life jackets to people to boost revenue and save lives instead of turning this into a police state like our own countries have become.

Posted by Jon on August 11, 2010 17:17

Should be with a universal don't swim symbol .. That is a lot of text to read for a non-native speaker not fluent in English.

Posted by VFaye on August 11, 2010 18:53

Could start with amending much of http://summerinphuket.com/ brought to you by the same media firm that handles the tourist police and the governor's website !!

The site is apparently "A group of local hoteliers and businesses in Phuket, Thailand have ''cancelled Low Season April 15 through November 1 and are renaming the period more appropriately Summer Season to better reflect the fact that Phuket is one of the world's top year-round vacation and second home destinations."

Posted by LivinLOS on August 11, 2010 19:50

To all the dogooders out there, realise that at the end of the day it just comes down to one undeniable conclusion.
Everyone is in charge of their own lives so choices they make impact on their destiny.
If that choice is to swim when conditions are not suitable (dangerous) so be it. You just have to accept the fact that some people will not heed others advice (warnings).
Loss of life is tragic but at the end of the day we must all accept the responsibility for our own actions.

Posted by Whispering Jack on August 12, 2010 00:05

Warnings should take place when it is very risky. And 'SWIMMING in the sea in this season is VERY RISKY.' Do not kill no more tourists by selling holidays without this warning. It is about life.

Posted by Anonymous on August 12, 2010 04:29

So......let me get this straight.

If a red flag is flying on the beach, no swimming.
A red and yellow flag means it's safe to swim.

Confusing? Maybe they should change the safe swimming flag to green?

Posted by Sir Burr on August 12, 2010 08:23

I would suggest a number of the victims thus far displayed alongside the warning would be most effective at deterrence in ignoring warnings.

Foreign and Thai tour operators should inform visitors of this fact about monsoon season and that local hotel group should warn on their sites, too.
And I agree get the red out of red and yellow "safe to swim " flags, it breeds complacency, or are those really caution while swimming flags?
Just too confusing and I live here.
When I first arrived five years ago I had no idea about the riptides or monsoon waves, so until PW started stirring the nest, it was Phuket's dirty little secret.

Posted by Ripley on August 12, 2010 09:30

@ Jon...
If I understood your comment, all policemen and law-enforcers are useless as tourists are adults and are responsible of their acts.
Am I right?
So, no fining for those not wearing a helmet.
Am I right?
So, no fining for those driving while drunk.
Am I right?

Posted by Whistle-Blower on August 12, 2010 09:33

no the yellow and red flag means it patrolled by lifeguards but they have red flags in between some of these areas to show where the rips are, I think a better explanation of rips is needed, if people understand not to fight against them it could save their lives.
For advertising "the summer campaign" it should be mentioned that the seas can be potentially dangerous and not be left to a day by day basis, it's actually more a minute by minute basis it can change so quickly

Posted by Michael on August 12, 2010 09:46

I tried to submit a warning to TripAdvisor and this was their response...
"
Dear TripAdvisor Member,

Thank you for taking the time to write a review. We're sorry, but we weren't able to publish your review. You're very welcome to post your message on TripAdvisor Forums (http://www.tripadvisor.com/ForumHome). Forums are discussion boards in which members ask and answer as many travel-related questions as they like, share opinions and get travel help from fellow members.

We look forward to seeing your contribution to our community.

Best regards,
Eric
TripAdvisor Support Team

[127]"

So I will try the message boards and see if that helps anybody to save a life.

Posted by Graham on August 12, 2010 10:33

I am still not getting my head around the fact, that one victim was a lifeguard.

With a proper information system at work, I would recommend, if you need rescue while swimming with a red signal, you should have to pay a mandatory contribution, even higher if you were warned before or while entering the sea.

Every rescue attempt brings the people doing it into danger and takes away the chance of possible rescue from others as there are only limited resources.

Because you can see every day people getting warned and they just do not care. Maybe as an idea, give the lifesavers a plasticed paper with graphical pictures and cartoons about the danger of the sea. So they can make clear, why they warn you. Should help with not understanding Chinese also.

But I really like one mayor finally start the action, as the talk about dying instead of holidaying in Phuket gets bigger. And again, awesome how they jump, when Chinese authorities grumble.

Posted by Lena on August 12, 2010 15:41

Graham,
I too, have had warning on TripAdvisor.com removed.
I would suggest the site's Review section is useless for ascertaining safety of a destination, they just won't publish bad news.

Posted by Ripley on August 13, 2010 09:14

No comment ! the responsability (or) irresponsability belongs to the persons in charge of the problem; Phuket municipality! they are doing NOT ENOUGH! they welcome the tourists on Bangla Road (making it safer with no cars in the evenings) but have absolutely no idea about how to make their beaches safer; the resorts are not guilty, a tourist will be more attentive to a clear bulletin board, located at the right location, flags, life guards are of course necessary, but also at the right locations with the necessary equipment, car, dinghies etc etc and...Trained staff !!!! yes in Phuket you got more Jetski professional to show their skills turning and polluting the beaches...and killing you eventually, than Professional rescuers able to save someones lives. Welcome to amazing Thailand ! (my deepest sympathy to all the victims)

Posted by serge on August 22, 2010 20:25