PHUKET: Beaches on Phuket that have no rules about controls on personal umbrellas and no jet-skis in the water appear to be winners with tourists, Phuketwan discovered yesterday.
By doing what the vendors want, Phuket's Governor and Patong's mayor appear to be compromising the appeal of beaches to meet the demands of private enterprise.
And hasn't that been the problem all along?
Nai Harn and Yanui beaches looked great yesterday with small bright personal umbrellas scattered wherever swimmers wished.
There were no massage beds to be seen and no jet-skis, either.
While there were no neat rows of umbrellas, the beaches looked idyllic and the people on the beaches appeared to be enjoying themselves.
One adventurous couple even brought his and hers air mattresses and an air pump.
When we last visited Patong, the large rent umbrellas with their metal spikes certainly appeared to be returning.
The governor's idea of allowing umbrellas in just 10 percent of Phuket's beaches seems to be an idea that will not work for the DIY umbrella tourists.
The swimmers have adapted to bringing their own brollies.
Meanwhile, Prince of Songkhla University is doing some investigating about the 10 percent idea. On what we saw yesterday, allowing people to bring their own brollies but making sure commerce is not allowed a new foothold could be the way forward.
By doing what the vendors want, Phuket's Governor and Patong's mayor appear to be compromising the appeal of beaches to meet the demands of private enterprise.
And hasn't that been the problem all along?
Nai Harn and Yanui beaches looked great yesterday with small bright personal umbrellas scattered wherever swimmers wished.
There were no massage beds to be seen and no jet-skis, either.
While there were no neat rows of umbrellas, the beaches looked idyllic and the people on the beaches appeared to be enjoying themselves.
One adventurous couple even brought his and hers air mattresses and an air pump.
When we last visited Patong, the large rent umbrellas with their metal spikes certainly appeared to be returning.
The governor's idea of allowing umbrellas in just 10 percent of Phuket's beaches seems to be an idea that will not work for the DIY umbrella tourists.
The swimmers have adapted to bringing their own brollies.
Meanwhile, Prince of Songkhla University is doing some investigating about the 10 percent idea. On what we saw yesterday, allowing people to bring their own brollies but making sure commerce is not allowed a new foothold could be the way forward.
Great article, just goes to show what could be accomplished if the Governor and the other authorities actually listened to tourists (which lets not forget are the people who pay all the bills)
Just think how successful Phuket could be if the interests of the many were put ahead of the interests of the few.
Come on authorities.... what more do you need???
Posted by Amazing Thailand on January 21, 2015 09:43