PHUKET: No law in Thailand can prevent sunloving tourists bringing their own umbrellas and chairs to Phuket's beaches and sitting where they like, the holiday island's Police Commander, Major General Teerapon Tipjalern, said today.
His statement is likely to finally end confusion triggered by some media outlets in misquoting Phuket authorities.
''Journalists should know the law as well,'' he said. ''There is no point in reporting these things wrongly.
''The governor has made a clear-cut point. [As Phuketwan reported, Governor Jamleran Tipayapongtada said last week that tourists may bring their own equipment to Phuket's beaches and sit on chairs under umbrellas wherever they like.]
''If you bring your own equipment, you may put it anywhere you like on any beach.
''Can you imagine? If you come to enjoy the public beach with your family and friends, which law is going to be used to stop you?
''You bring your equipment, you take it away with you when you leave . . . nothing wrong with that.
''If you come and make the beach dirty, if you leave garbage behind, you may contravene the rules.''
He said the law applied equally to visiting international tourists or to local residents enjoying a traditional beach picnic.
Some of the officials accompanying a vice governor to Patong beach on Friday smoked cigarettes and stubbed out the butts in the beach sand, indicating that they have little idea about Thai laws designed to protect the country's beaches for future generations.
Officials seeking to make Patong a role model for introduction of a ''10 percent zone'' to confine umbrellas and services are likely to be bitterly disappointed.
The plan to roll out the ''10 percent zones'' to all of Phuket's beaches before November 15 is not likely to succeed - because Patong is the least typical beach on the island.
His statement is likely to finally end confusion triggered by some media outlets in misquoting Phuket authorities.
''Journalists should know the law as well,'' he said. ''There is no point in reporting these things wrongly.
''The governor has made a clear-cut point. [As Phuketwan reported, Governor Jamleran Tipayapongtada said last week that tourists may bring their own equipment to Phuket's beaches and sit on chairs under umbrellas wherever they like.]
''If you bring your own equipment, you may put it anywhere you like on any beach.
''Can you imagine? If you come to enjoy the public beach with your family and friends, which law is going to be used to stop you?
''You bring your equipment, you take it away with you when you leave . . . nothing wrong with that.
''If you come and make the beach dirty, if you leave garbage behind, you may contravene the rules.''
He said the law applied equally to visiting international tourists or to local residents enjoying a traditional beach picnic.
Some of the officials accompanying a vice governor to Patong beach on Friday smoked cigarettes and stubbed out the butts in the beach sand, indicating that they have little idea about Thai laws designed to protect the country's beaches for future generations.
Officials seeking to make Patong a role model for introduction of a ''10 percent zone'' to confine umbrellas and services are likely to be bitterly disappointed.
The plan to roll out the ''10 percent zones'' to all of Phuket's beaches before November 15 is not likely to succeed - because Patong is the least typical beach on the island.
Right. Clear!
I may sit at Phuket beaches everywhere with my own chair and umbrella.
Do the jet ski and parasail people know that too?
Posted by Kurt on November 9, 2015 11:10
Editor Comment:
You tell them, Kurt. Nobody else seems to want to do that.