Jet-Skis Not Allowed to Park on Beaches
By Sert Tongdee Tuesday, October 21, 2014
PHUKET: Jet-ski operators are not allowed to park on the sands at any Phuket beaches, Royal Thai Navy 3 Commander Vice Admiral Saiyan Prasongsomret said today.
He was making it plain that the bar on commercial restrictions on the popular holiday beaches on Phuket's west coast also includes jet-skis.
''Jet-skis may park on private land for the purposes of renting, but not on public land,'' he said.
It is believed the same ruling would also apply to parasail speedboats, which have crews organising takeoffs and landings on Phuket's beaches, especially at Patong.
The declaration was made at the Royal Thai Navy 3 base at Cape Panwa today by the vice admiral, accompanied by Vice Governor Jamleran Tipayapongtadav and Phuket Police Commander Major General Pachara Boonyasit.
Local municipalities were responsible for making sure that commercial activities did not return to Phuket's beaches, the vice admiral said.
There were still some cases in dispute at Nai Yang and Kamala because issues were being dealt with by the courts, he said.
Vice Governor Jamleran said it was not an option that sunbeds and umbrella vendors would be allowed to return. The conditions also applied to jet-skis, he said.
Major General Pachara added that it was his intention to clear all illegal taxis from Phuket.
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Comments
Comments have been disabled for this article.
And the horses that cross the 4 lane highway in Chalong to work on the beach? Will that be stopped, too?
Posted by
The War Horse
on
October 21, 2014 23:26
If this holds it will be the best news I've heard in years. I'm a local expat and the jetski gang tried to sell me drugs last week. Aggressively!
Posted by
hotgem
on
October 21, 2014 23:28
How are they going to deal with the parasailing unless they build platform in the sea, as they used to have in Rawai off Koh Bon a few years ago
Posted by
Michael
on
October 22, 2014 00:34
Does this actually mean they cannot park on the sandy part of the beach but can still park back on the grassy part?...or is it the entire area?
Posted by
sky
on
October 22, 2014 03:49
Editor Comment:
None of the beach area is private. Our understanding is that jet-skis will either have to stay entirely in the water all the time or find private ''parking'' near the beaches, which is unlikely.
Hallelujah! dare we say that we have seen the end to the Jet Ski scourge that has plagued Phuket for decades? If they are banned from conducting business on public beaches does that mean an end to them? I am concerned however with the statement ''Jet-skis may park on private land for the purposes of renting, but not on public land'' Does that mean that they can park on public land and then roll the jet ski down to the water and back when they are finished? Also it seems that if the parasail business cannot use the beach then its DONE...finished ?? I'm just thinking how they get around this latest decree? they have managed to survive so far so just how are they going to circumvent this latest ruling? I hope and pray that this is the end for them.....they have ripped off their last tourist :)
Tom
Posted by
Tom
on
October 22, 2014 03:57
The commentators are not reading this right. They are banned only from parking on the beach. There is nothing to stop jetskis and speedboats from basing themselves in the sea. I doubt if jetskis would be prevented from crossing the beach at the beginning and end of the day, otherwise rental surfboards and bodyboards etc should also be banned. You will never see the last of the jetskis, unless jetskis operating in the sea are banned (which could be achieved through drivers (skippers) licence enforcement) but will not be due to inaction(!?) of Marine 5.
Posted by
phonus balonus
on
October 22, 2014 06:42
"Our understanding is that jet-skis will either have to stay entirely in the water all the time or find private ''parking'' near the beaches, which is unlikely."
Expect refuelling in the water, then Messy.
Posted by
phonus
on
October 22, 2014 07:35
great news.no more seeing tourists going to paradise early.but to be honest the last time i saw this was nearly 25 yrs ago when a tourist was stranded in the air above loma park and ill never forget seeing an asian girl dragged through the water and the boat not stopping.they have improved since then but to be rid of them is great news.as for horses crossing the rd here horses have the right of way
Posted by
bondi
on
October 22, 2014 07:43
In keeping with Military orders all along. The next move is that of the Marine Office Chief, who rules the seas. The jetskis are unlikely to pack up and go home. After all the Chief probably thinks they provide a public service for tourists and he has said in the past "I've never received a single complaint about Jet-skis."
Posted by
Duncan
on
October 22, 2014 08:42
For once I side with Mr Ed - the Doomsayers should give this a chance - it's only been announced yesterday. Evolution not revolution.
Posted by
Mister Ree
on
October 22, 2014 09:04
so they can't park on land ..but most likely be allowed to park in the water...well this should make swimming a real challenge
Posted by
sky
on
October 22, 2014 09:19
What about all speedboats parking day and night along Phuket beaches such as in Rawai and Chalong Bay?
Posted by
Whistle-Blower
on
October 22, 2014 09:44
Editor Comment:
The interpretation of the rules should become evident shortly.
Or an attempt to justify keeping the jetski's may be that they can assist in rescues where resources are limited.
Posted by
Manowar
on
October 22, 2014 09:45
Editor Comment:
One or two at each beach may be useful.
The sea is a public are as all beaches and public lands and to keep on anchor a boat you need permission from different departments such as Harbour Department, Coastal Environment, Thai Navy, etc....
you can not have fixed moorings without authorization.
Posted by
Whistle-Blower
on
October 22, 2014 09:58
I agree on the basis they are available for the purpose of rescue only and not used for hire.
As you are aware most australian patrolled beaches do have jet skis available and are usually placed so that they can be deployed quickly when required.
Posted by
Manowar
on
October 22, 2014 10:09
Editor Comment:
A jet-ski with sled is the fastest way of bringing in a half-drowned swimmer and therefore Phuket needs at least one per beach, two or three at the long beaches.
Seeing the repeated comments on Jet Skis and Parasails shows just how anti most people are. Especially given the beds are gone. I will put up with laying on the sand if I do not have to duck ropes or be assaulted by fumes from the boats and skis as well. Hopefully this time it sticks then we may just get back to beautiful beaches.
Posted by
Davemc60
on
October 22, 2014 10:23
An advertising campaign, jet ski free Phuket beaches might bring back a lot of tourists....lets see. wm
Posted by
wm
on
October 22, 2014 11:12
Just returned from Surin Beach. There is parasailers taking off and landing from the beach. There are jet-skis parked on and being rented from the beach. So I guess that the people responsible for surin beach have yet to be informed about this.
Posted by
Anonymous
on
October 22, 2014 12:13
Editor Comment:
Jet-skis and parasails are banned at Surin beach. Better call Phuket Marine Office 5.
They are still there, right now, on Karon Beach.
http://goo.gl/Oo3amZ
Posted by
Smithy
on
October 22, 2014 13:37
What do the authorities actually want, tourists in Phuket or not. Keep taking away the normalities of the beach front at least at Patong and the tourists will stop coming. Beds on the beach are normal, not everyone wants to lay directly on the sand. Some people want to lay on a bed under an umbrella, especially the mature persons. No Jet Skis or parasails, must be joking. These are normal on beaches. Surely the authorities can up with a better idea than banning all these things. It is not as if Patong Beach is a hundred metres long and every person is sitting on top of each other. Maybe better Policing of the whole area might be a start. Again surely there is room on Patong Beach for everyone
Posted by
Joe Bonaguro
on
October 22, 2014 13:39
Editor Comment:
Your idea of what a beach should be like probably owes a lot to city living, crowds of neighbors, noise and engine fumes. No thanks, Joe. People go to beaches to get away from all that.
Anyway, as long jet-sky operators can drive their illegal machine trains ( jet-skies and parasail boats)through towns in morning and evening, to and from beaches, as long no police officer cares to act about that, As long the jet-sky and parasail business is making swimming unsafe on Phuket beaches, that long NCPO is obviously not in power. Simple and true. To spell it out,..Present Patong police does not executive NCPO orders, Tuk tuks park where they want to park, illegal taxis all over, Illegal and dangerous jet-sky and parasail boats transports 2x a day. Patong police is simply not doing their duties. Daily practice of what is going on in Patong proves that.
Posted by
Kurt
on
October 22, 2014 14:10
There is at least one parasail operating at Karon Beach today, but I don't know if they are legal on those sands or not.
Posted by
Diver Mike
on
October 22, 2014 15:20
Just returned from a day out with my family on Surin Beach. There were 8 jet-ski operators, 2 parasailers and countless beach vendors all operating on the beach! Nothing seems to have changed.
Posted by
Chris
on
October 22, 2014 16:00
Your idea of my idea of a beach is not quite right.
I agree that people get away from the City for peace and quiet but if your going to worry about crowds and fumes there are a couple of things that you may consider.
Patong Beach is a Holiday resort and as such is usually very crowded.
Secondly if your going to mention fumes, maybe then you would like to close Thaweewong Road with all it's motorised traffic which is akin peak hour in cities.
The beach at Patong is give is take 3 kilometres.
A percentage of visitor do like Jet Ski and Parasails, especially the younger visitor.
Surely 500 metres or so at the southern end of the beach could be set aside for Jet Skis and the likes.
I am not into either Jet Skis or parasailing, but I think as a holiday resort, you should cater for the visitors that want this
Posted by
Joe Bonaguro
on
October 22, 2014 17:09
Editor Comment:
Phuket either regains a reputation for being an environmentally friendly destination or it has a very short future. The crowds cannot be kept off the roads but they can be lessened on the beaches. And those who are there can be there for the right reasons. Pleasing everyone all the time is a recipe for failure in tourism, and in life.
WB:
I have been wondering the same thing for sometime!
They have stayed put after all the so called law enforcements with business as usual.
I might be wrong but unless without a strong support by Thai Navy, it would have been mission impossible. But hopefully i am wrong.
Posted by
Sam
on
October 23, 2014 14:59
No jet-ski - great. No sunbeds - also great providing you want to make sure 50% of tourists wont return next year.
Posted by
Palmtree
on
October 24, 2014 19:32
Editor Comment:
There's guesswork. And there's wild guesswork.
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And the horses that cross the 4 lane highway in Chalong to work on the beach? Will that be stopped, too?
Posted by The War Horse on October 21, 2014 23:26