PHUKET: Beachgoers will be able to bring their own umbrellas and chairs to ''10 percent zones'' under a new set of proposals revealed today to end the discord over what should happen next on Phuket's beaches.

Researchers from Phuket's Prince of Songkhla University have suggested the establishment of an island beach committee to oversee standards at all beaches and ensure the regulation and protection of the natural icons.

Vendors at today's Phuket Provincial Hall meeting were not happy to hear the recommendation that all commercial activities should be barred.

But the seven months of research was independent and the cost was met by the university, without so much as a single telephone call being made by the governor to seek an outcome, a university spokesperson said.

While the university's comprehensive proposals have yet to be endorsed, Phuket Governor Nisit Jansomwong said authorities were ''90 percent there'' in finding a way forward on the beaches.

Bearing in mind that 20 years of law-breaking and environmental abuse has to be corrected, the governor appears to be taking the right approach.

''We can't make any hasty decision just to suit circumstances,'' he told Phuketwan after the meeting. ''We need to get this right, and that may take a little longer.''

Today's gathering brought the governor, all three vice governors, three district chiefs, the Royal Thai Navy, senior police and local council representatives together, along with an audience of beach vendor stakeholders.

A university spokesperson said their were ''extreme differences'' between what tourists wanted and what the beach vendors wanted.

Though the spokesperson did not say so, this is no surprise given the way that laws have gone unenforced on the beaches for two decades.

All proposals had to be legal, sustainable, and in the best interests of the beaches, the research summary said.

In terms of interviews, 75 percent of tourists in the survey were Europeans and 25 percent Asians, an approach that reflected the levels of interest of the respective groups.

Researchers interviewed 470 arriving tourists and the same number of departing tourists, beach business stakeholders, officials and law enforcers, hotel managers and 420 Thai people who use the beaches, along with vice governors, mayors, police superintendents and senior council officials.

There was a huge difference, researchers said, between the majority of people surveyed, who were content with a 10 percent zone for services, and the vendors who wanted a much greater area opened up for sales.

Of the tourists questioned on arrival, 54 percent expected to find clean beaches; 27 percent expected a natural environment; 14 percent expected snacks and other services; and 3.5 percent sought jet-ski rides and other activities.

Outward bound tourists said Phuket;'s beaches were clean but not as clean as expected. Satisfaction levels were down on expectations.

One point was up, though - safety. The vast majority gave a big tick to ''safety'' despite concerns that a military presence might indicate Phuket was less safe.

In summary, the research team recommended:

.. all proposals have to follow the law;

.. an independent beach management committee should be set up, funded by local government, with representatives from 12 organisations ncluding a vice governor, district chiefs, mayors, police superintendents, senior officials, community leaders, and academics;

.. all people earning money on or near the beaches should form cooperatives;

.. local people unconnected with tourism needed a voice;

.. hotel managers connected to tourism also should have a say.

The Phuket beach committee would essentially follow international standards adapted to Phuket's specific needs, with mobile patrols aimed at making sure rules were enforced. The committee would support and protect the environment and ensure the proper collection and disposal of both offshore and onshore garbage.

No beach services would be permitted on any beach, the researchers suggested, unless the committee felt it was necessary - and if it was necessary, the area involved would be no more than 10 percent.

If services are permitted, the people who are engaged to work should be real local people and the ''mafia'' big guys should be kept out.

Every operation must be carried out by a cooperative.

Ideas for money-making on beaches should be considered, including pre-wedding photography. The aim for new ideas should be ''beach fun.''

Beach chairs will not be permitted except for the aged and the disabled in designated areas. People are free to bring their own equipment for use at those beaches where there are designated areas.

No food, cigarettes and alcohol will be permitted to be sold at beaches.

Provision for sales of snacks and soft drinks will be made along the shorefronts as designated by the committee, provided the constructions do not interfere with beach vistas.

Jet-skis, banana boats and parasailers will be controlled in zones, with a cap on existing numbers.

The committee will have the responsibility for explaining to tourists how the rules and regulations work.

While the governor said the future of the beaches of Phuket was ''90 percent there,'' the big issue remains funding for the committee. Local councils, which presently control the beaches, say that finding a budget for a beach committee would be difficult.

The only mayor at today's meeting was Patong's Chalermlak Kebsub, who has previously said that it was not possible to enforce rules on the beach.

She has the added difficulty of needing to win the votes of a council dominated by members who do not support her.

Governor Nisit congratulated the university researchers on providing potential solutions, not just the set of statistics that he had expected.