PHUKET: The Governor of Phuket, Nisit Jansomwong, will call in the Royal Thai Navy to investigate the latest abuses of government policy at Patong, the most popular holiday island beach.
It was plain on Patong today that umbrellas and mats have clearly expanded beyond the governor's plan to limit commercial usage to 10 percent of every beach.
Strolling vendors were plain to see - as they are at virtually all of Phuket's beaches - and defiant swimmers are still bringing their own beach chairs and umbrellas, despite a ban.
At least one Patong restaurant appears to have encroached on a public area of the beach with tables and chairs.
Governor Nisit was in Bangkok for talks today and rain fell across most of Phuket, negating any likely patrol by the Navy.
Patong was quiet today in advance of the wet weather forecast. But it seems likely that fine weather will bring more abuses of the governor's 10 percent plan.
All mats and umbrellas are supposed to be confined to the 10 percent of the beach allocated for commercial purposes, leaving the other 90 percent for swimmers to use - but without umbrellas.
All beach chairs and sunbeds have been banned.
Honorary consuls from European countries have made the point that there's a lack of understanding about the cultural difference between Thais and Europeans.
''Europeans have been brought up to use chairs and lounges,'' one consul said, on condition of anonymity.
''There is no way the average elderly European visitor can suddenly learn to get up and down from a mat. For Thais, this is natural and easy.
''For elderly Europeans who spend large amounts of money on Phuket, getting up and down from a mat is impossible.''
With numbers of tourists dropping for the low season, many businesses fear the current rules will stop many European visitors from returning next high season.
Patong Mayor Chalermlak Kebsub has told the governor more than once that council officers are not capable of enforcing the new regulations over an entrenched group of beach entrepreneurs who believe they have a traditional right to make money from public space.
The military cleared commerce from all of Phuket's beaches and foreshores soon after taking control almost one year ago. However, the governor's 10 percent plan is an experimental compromise designed to give the poorest workers some income.
Patong's Mayor Chalermlak says there are no poor beach workers in Patong.
''I agreed to the beach clearance,'' she said today. ''But I believe rows of umbrellas should be restored. They look quite beautiful.
''The problem with the governor's 10 percent idea is that on busy days when Patong beach has, say, 10,000 visitors, it's not possible to fit all those who want umbrellas into the 10 percent zone.''
Looser, more casual arrangements appear to be working quite well at other popular beaches, including Kamala, Karon, Kata, Surin and Nai Harn.
However, jet-skis continue to hog prime space on the shore at Patong and have infiltrated Surin, a beach where they were previously banned.
Mayor Chalerlak has posted a large notice providing visitors with the telephone numbers of Phuket's honorary consuls should they find themselves involved in the kind of intimidation that comes with disputes about jet-ski damages.
It has been suggested that instead of extorting cash from tourists, jet-ski operators should make sure insurance is comprehensive.
Phuketwan believes that if jet-skis cannot be banned, all jet-ski owners should contribute to a cooperative fund to cover claims, and that all of Phuket's beaches should be totally cleared of commerce, with swimmers allowed to bring their own beach chairs and umbrellas and sit wherever they like.
It was plain on Patong today that umbrellas and mats have clearly expanded beyond the governor's plan to limit commercial usage to 10 percent of every beach.
Strolling vendors were plain to see - as they are at virtually all of Phuket's beaches - and defiant swimmers are still bringing their own beach chairs and umbrellas, despite a ban.
At least one Patong restaurant appears to have encroached on a public area of the beach with tables and chairs.
Governor Nisit was in Bangkok for talks today and rain fell across most of Phuket, negating any likely patrol by the Navy.
Patong was quiet today in advance of the wet weather forecast. But it seems likely that fine weather will bring more abuses of the governor's 10 percent plan.
All mats and umbrellas are supposed to be confined to the 10 percent of the beach allocated for commercial purposes, leaving the other 90 percent for swimmers to use - but without umbrellas.
All beach chairs and sunbeds have been banned.
Honorary consuls from European countries have made the point that there's a lack of understanding about the cultural difference between Thais and Europeans.
''Europeans have been brought up to use chairs and lounges,'' one consul said, on condition of anonymity.
''There is no way the average elderly European visitor can suddenly learn to get up and down from a mat. For Thais, this is natural and easy.
''For elderly Europeans who spend large amounts of money on Phuket, getting up and down from a mat is impossible.''
With numbers of tourists dropping for the low season, many businesses fear the current rules will stop many European visitors from returning next high season.
Patong Mayor Chalermlak Kebsub has told the governor more than once that council officers are not capable of enforcing the new regulations over an entrenched group of beach entrepreneurs who believe they have a traditional right to make money from public space.
The military cleared commerce from all of Phuket's beaches and foreshores soon after taking control almost one year ago. However, the governor's 10 percent plan is an experimental compromise designed to give the poorest workers some income.
Patong's Mayor Chalermlak says there are no poor beach workers in Patong.
''I agreed to the beach clearance,'' she said today. ''But I believe rows of umbrellas should be restored. They look quite beautiful.
''The problem with the governor's 10 percent idea is that on busy days when Patong beach has, say, 10,000 visitors, it's not possible to fit all those who want umbrellas into the 10 percent zone.''
Looser, more casual arrangements appear to be working quite well at other popular beaches, including Kamala, Karon, Kata, Surin and Nai Harn.
However, jet-skis continue to hog prime space on the shore at Patong and have infiltrated Surin, a beach where they were previously banned.
Mayor Chalerlak has posted a large notice providing visitors with the telephone numbers of Phuket's honorary consuls should they find themselves involved in the kind of intimidation that comes with disputes about jet-ski damages.
It has been suggested that instead of extorting cash from tourists, jet-ski operators should make sure insurance is comprehensive.
Phuketwan believes that if jet-skis cannot be banned, all jet-ski owners should contribute to a cooperative fund to cover claims, and that all of Phuket's beaches should be totally cleared of commerce, with swimmers allowed to bring their own beach chairs and umbrellas and sit wherever they like.
Unfortunately you cannot legislate human greed. All laws require either acceptance or obeyance by the citizens and enforcement for transgressors. Phuket has neither.
Posted by Arun Muruga on May 8, 2015 12:11