PHUKET fails the test for five-star beaches, according to a new rating system established by the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment.

The island's best rating beaches were Naiharn, Surin, Kata and Karon, which all earned four stars. So did the beach on He island.

Nearby, Koh Racha went one better, rating five stars.

Both Racha and He islands are south of Phuket and popular with divers.

More than 300 beaches were assessed around Thailand by officers from the department. ''Clean, quiet, and secluded'' were the three key attributes they were looking for.

Rawai Tessaban claimed credit for three of the high-ranking beaches that fall inside their jurisdiction, Naiharn, Koh Racha and Koh He.

The mayor, Aroon Sorod, said: ''We try to keep all our beaches as clean as possible and vendors making sales to swimmers are not permitted.

''At Naiharn, we have some beach shopkeepers, and they do a great job keeping the beach the way it should be.

''Next year, we'll try to make sure Nui, Ao Sane, and our other beaches also measure up.''

The department's permanent secretary, Pimuk Simaroj, said he hoped the star system would inspire more local authorities to meet higher standards.

''We will keep coming back to check every year,'' he said. ''Beaches can win extra stars, and lose them, too.''

Thailand's best five-star beaches are in Satun province, Khun Aroon said.

Perhaps to protect the reputation of unranked but popular beaches, only those rating four or five stars were mentioned.

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