THE high price of jetski hire and tourist rip-offs were discussed today at a meeting at Provincial Hall, chaired by Vice Governor Vorapot Rattasima.
Patricipants were told that there are now 36 jetskis based in Karon, 10 based at Kamala, and 168 at Patong.
Representatives were invited from the tessaban of all three beach resort destinations, but Patong failed to send a representative, or an apology for not turning up.
Tourist police, Patong police, the Marine Department and the regional representative of the Office of Tourism Development, Dunyaphark Kronsaeng, were also there.
Marine Department director Oran Hangjarean said a total of 219 jetskis were registered for use around Phuket.
Patong deputy chief of police, Lieutenant Colonel Seksan Kewsawang, told the meeting that there were three main problems:
Prices for renting jetskis were high and there was no standard hourly rate; fake accidents were used by some operators to extort damages from tourists; real accidents sometimes occurred with serious injuries and damage.
He said regulation hire rates should be set and posted on boards by beaches in several languages.
The meeting was told that a jetski in Karon cost 1500 an hour while in Patong, 30 minutes would cost 1200 baht.
According to Khun Dunyaphark, the standard rate at all beaches should be 600 baht for an hour.
He agreed that rates should be the same at beaches around the island.
Lieutenant Colonel Seksan said that a standard hire contract should also be available to be signed by jetski hirers. At present, each jetski owner determined the contents of individual contracts.
He added that public signs should also warn customers to check the jetski carefully for damage and read the contract carefully.
Agreement should be reached before the jetski leaves the beach on the potential cost if real damage takes place.
A regular problem was when jetskis were overturned, and motors had to be properly cleaned. The cost of that process should be clear beforehand.
Some people were ignorant of jetskis but rode them anyway, often resulting in problems, he said.
Khun Oran said that from January 21-23, representatives from the popular Thai Yamaha jetski makers would be on Phuket to talk to operators about safety standards and maintenance.
Marine rescue techniques would be taught by experts from Thailand, Australia and Japan.
Lessons begin at 9am and run until 4pm on Patong beach. Jetski operators from Karon and Kamala are invited to join.
Diplomatic representatives who have dealt with the consequences of serious jetski injuries to tourists have recommended compulsory insurance to prevent ripoffs and cover serious injury.
Khun Dunyaphark is looking to set a new standard price for jetski hire and welcomes input. His telephone number is 076 522299.
Patricipants were told that there are now 36 jetskis based in Karon, 10 based at Kamala, and 168 at Patong.
Representatives were invited from the tessaban of all three beach resort destinations, but Patong failed to send a representative, or an apology for not turning up.
Tourist police, Patong police, the Marine Department and the regional representative of the Office of Tourism Development, Dunyaphark Kronsaeng, were also there.
Marine Department director Oran Hangjarean said a total of 219 jetskis were registered for use around Phuket.
Patong deputy chief of police, Lieutenant Colonel Seksan Kewsawang, told the meeting that there were three main problems:
Prices for renting jetskis were high and there was no standard hourly rate; fake accidents were used by some operators to extort damages from tourists; real accidents sometimes occurred with serious injuries and damage.
He said regulation hire rates should be set and posted on boards by beaches in several languages.
The meeting was told that a jetski in Karon cost 1500 an hour while in Patong, 30 minutes would cost 1200 baht.
According to Khun Dunyaphark, the standard rate at all beaches should be 600 baht for an hour.
He agreed that rates should be the same at beaches around the island.
Lieutenant Colonel Seksan said that a standard hire contract should also be available to be signed by jetski hirers. At present, each jetski owner determined the contents of individual contracts.
He added that public signs should also warn customers to check the jetski carefully for damage and read the contract carefully.
Agreement should be reached before the jetski leaves the beach on the potential cost if real damage takes place.
A regular problem was when jetskis were overturned, and motors had to be properly cleaned. The cost of that process should be clear beforehand.
Some people were ignorant of jetskis but rode them anyway, often resulting in problems, he said.
Khun Oran said that from January 21-23, representatives from the popular Thai Yamaha jetski makers would be on Phuket to talk to operators about safety standards and maintenance.
Marine rescue techniques would be taught by experts from Thailand, Australia and Japan.
Lessons begin at 9am and run until 4pm on Patong beach. Jetski operators from Karon and Kamala are invited to join.
Diplomatic representatives who have dealt with the consequences of serious jetski injuries to tourists have recommended compulsory insurance to prevent ripoffs and cover serious injury.
Khun Dunyaphark is looking to set a new standard price for jetski hire and welcomes input. His telephone number is 076 522299.
What has happened to the decision by a previous governor to remove all the jetskis from the beaches? The governor at the time said that he would give operators seven years to finish their operations. The time limit should be up soon?
Editor: Phuketwan wasn't around at the time but I am sure the Phuket Gazette won't mind us quoting the first paragraph of a report on February 27, 2007: Phuket Governor Niran Kalayanamit has backed down from the province's policy to gradually phase out jet-skis at Phuket beaches and is now allowing owners of registered jet-skis to replace old or inoperable vessels with new ones.
Posted by Anonymous on January 13, 2009 15:36