PHUKET: Honorary consuls were responsible for warning their citizens about any dangers with jet-ski hire on Phuket, the Chief of Phuket Marine Office 5, Phuripat Theerakulpisut, said yesterday.
He was responding to suggestions that comprehensive insurance could solve many of the rip-offs and intimidation that often follow jet-ski crashes and disputes on the beaches between hirers and tourists.
Khun Phuripat confirmed today to Phuketwan that Thai law only allowed jet-skis for use as a sports activity and banned their use as a hire business. Only local regulations allow jet-skis to operate on Phuket.
Khun Phuripat, who is responsible for marine safety, told yesterday's meeting of the holiday island's honorary consuls with Governor Nisit Jansomwong that ''first-class'' insurance covered jet-skis.
But Dutch honorary consul Seven Smulders said ''first-class'' insurance was not comprehensive. Many of the beach arguments and rip-offs have revolved around the tourist having to pay between 15,000 baht to 17,000 baht for time-out-of-the water, based on 3000 baht a day for five days.
Many tourists, having parted with their money, then see the jet-ski back in the water off Patong the following day, sometimes repaired, sometimes unrepaired.
Mr Smulders said he believed tourists would be willing to pay extra to know that all costs associated with a crash were covered.
Just back from a trip to the US, Mr Smulders said he could have hired a car for $50 a day but willingly paid $100 a day knowing that he was fully insured for all possible outcomes.
''The tourist is willing to pay a premium if he knows his jet-ski ride is risk-free,'' Mr Smulders said. ''If he doesn't pay the extra and he has an accident, it's his fault.''
The suggestion has been made many times in the past but Khun Phuripat has been slow to react. This time, he said he would discuss it as an issue with jet-ski hirers.
Mr Smulders had told the meeting, the first honorary consuls' forum in seven months: ''I am trying to find a solution so we know what is the maximum risk and what is covered by insurance because that is where the problem arises.''
The answer could be as simple as increasing the fare for the ride from 3000 baht to 3500 baht so that the tourist was fully insured, Mr Smulders said.
Earlier, Khun Phuripat told the gathering that jet-ski riding was ''too exciting'' and a debate followed when the translator said in English that riding a jet-ski was ''too dangerous and risky.''
The French honorary consul, Claude De Crissey, said he owned a jet-ski but would never ride it without wearing proper equipment and recommended that safety helmets be made compulsory for all riders.
Touts trying to attract tourists as riders now operate all along Phuket's most popular beach, Patong. More prime beachfront space has been given over to the exclusive use of jet-skis and speedboat parasailers since the Army cleared all commerce from Phuket's beaches in June last year.
Surveys show the jet-skis are hated by expats, locals and many tourists, and the mystery is why they are allowed to continue to operate when the governor and others say the future of Phuket lies with the holiday island being seen as environmentally-friendly.
About 10 years ago, the then governor put in place a plan to phase out the noisy, dangerous and polluting machines over seven years.
Other governors chose to compromise and greater numbers of jet-skis than ever before are operating on Phuket's beaches - despite the fact that under Thai law, their operation is illegal.
He was responding to suggestions that comprehensive insurance could solve many of the rip-offs and intimidation that often follow jet-ski crashes and disputes on the beaches between hirers and tourists.
Khun Phuripat confirmed today to Phuketwan that Thai law only allowed jet-skis for use as a sports activity and banned their use as a hire business. Only local regulations allow jet-skis to operate on Phuket.
Khun Phuripat, who is responsible for marine safety, told yesterday's meeting of the holiday island's honorary consuls with Governor Nisit Jansomwong that ''first-class'' insurance covered jet-skis.
But Dutch honorary consul Seven Smulders said ''first-class'' insurance was not comprehensive. Many of the beach arguments and rip-offs have revolved around the tourist having to pay between 15,000 baht to 17,000 baht for time-out-of-the water, based on 3000 baht a day for five days.
Many tourists, having parted with their money, then see the jet-ski back in the water off Patong the following day, sometimes repaired, sometimes unrepaired.
Mr Smulders said he believed tourists would be willing to pay extra to know that all costs associated with a crash were covered.
Just back from a trip to the US, Mr Smulders said he could have hired a car for $50 a day but willingly paid $100 a day knowing that he was fully insured for all possible outcomes.
''The tourist is willing to pay a premium if he knows his jet-ski ride is risk-free,'' Mr Smulders said. ''If he doesn't pay the extra and he has an accident, it's his fault.''
The suggestion has been made many times in the past but Khun Phuripat has been slow to react. This time, he said he would discuss it as an issue with jet-ski hirers.
Mr Smulders had told the meeting, the first honorary consuls' forum in seven months: ''I am trying to find a solution so we know what is the maximum risk and what is covered by insurance because that is where the problem arises.''
The answer could be as simple as increasing the fare for the ride from 3000 baht to 3500 baht so that the tourist was fully insured, Mr Smulders said.
Earlier, Khun Phuripat told the gathering that jet-ski riding was ''too exciting'' and a debate followed when the translator said in English that riding a jet-ski was ''too dangerous and risky.''
The French honorary consul, Claude De Crissey, said he owned a jet-ski but would never ride it without wearing proper equipment and recommended that safety helmets be made compulsory for all riders.
Touts trying to attract tourists as riders now operate all along Phuket's most popular beach, Patong. More prime beachfront space has been given over to the exclusive use of jet-skis and speedboat parasailers since the Army cleared all commerce from Phuket's beaches in June last year.
Surveys show the jet-skis are hated by expats, locals and many tourists, and the mystery is why they are allowed to continue to operate when the governor and others say the future of Phuket lies with the holiday island being seen as environmentally-friendly.
About 10 years ago, the then governor put in place a plan to phase out the noisy, dangerous and polluting machines over seven years.
Other governors chose to compromise and greater numbers of jet-skis than ever before are operating on Phuket's beaches - despite the fact that under Thai law, their operation is illegal.
imagine if the jet-skis on the picture were sea turtles. What an absolute paradise.
Posted by Joe on April 22, 2015 11:38