Phuket Bans Beach Surfboard Hire
Tuesday, October 28, 2014
PHUKET: The hiring of surfboards from all Phuket beaches is now banned as illegal because it's commercial use of public space, a meeting on Phuket heard yesterday.
The ruling came from a representative of Phuket Marine Office 5 in response to a question from Karon police superintendent Colonel Nathapakin Kwanchaipruek.
Full-sized surfboards and smaller bodyboards are usually available for hire from most Phuket beaches all year, but particularly during the April to November months when surf rolls in at Phuket beaches and attracts tourists from all over the world.
At most places around the world, surfboard hire is considered to be a beneficial service for tourists and locals to encourage a sport that is environmentally-friendly.
Most eco-friendly countries encourage people to use surfboards but ban the use of motorised vehicles such as jet-skis and speedboats towing parasails.
Phuket, which aspires to return to being a destination renowned for its natural beauty, does just the opposite - it bans surfboard hire and welcomes jet-skis.
On Phuket, where the military has cleared the beaches of sunbeds, umbrellas and beach vendors of all kinds to restore ecotourism, jet-skis and parasails are encouraged - and now even get special treatment to keep their noisy, polluting businesses operating.
The regulations set out at a meeting at Patong's council offices make a nonsense of all the efforts by the military government of Thailand to present Phuket's beaches as ''natural'' and beautiful.
It's plain that the 16 parking buoy bays that are to be set up in the water off Patong for the jet-ski operators will enable their businesses to take over the shorefront.
It's the swimmers who should have priority. Instead, the jet-skis rule at Patong.
To remove the sunbeds and umbrellas yet allow the jet-skis to chose the prime locations all along the beach from which to operate shows that the local administrators couldn't care less about restoring the ''natural'' beauty and appeal of Patong.
This is all about keeping the jet-ski operators happy, even though the vast majority of visitors to Phuket's beaches wants the jet-skis removed.
Local authorities first promised to do that about nine years ago. Since then, it's become plain who ''owns'' the water along the shorefronts at Phuket's best beaches.
Rip-offs, scams and bad publicity for Phuket will continue as long as jet-skis are allowed to do as they please in the water off Patong and other beaches.
These machines are trouble. Any attempt by Phuket to restore its reputation for being the ''Pearl of the Andaman'' is doomed as long as the jet-skis and parasailers dominate the beachfronts.
Many board surfers will just have to find somewhere else more natural, where the local authorities know what they are doing, to ride the waves.
With the Asian Beach Games just a couple of weeks away, Phuket's commitment to support the private business generated by the motorcycles of the ocean is a reminder to the world that money comes first on Thailand's holiday islands, not nature or tourists.
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Comments
Comments have been disabled for this article.
Amazing - I assume, for now, surfing isn't illegal?
Posted by
paul
on
October 28, 2014 11:23
Editor Comment:
Bring your own board, then fight your way past the jet-skis.
This really is crazy, if the government is really wants to impress then get ride of jet-skies and all speedboats in the bays. Maybe when they see the pollution caused by filling the tanks of the jet skies at sea they will have a change of mind. The idea of no surf boards SUPB & body boards is crazy, they have really gone to far.
Posted by
Granitebeetle
on
October 28, 2014 11:28
Editor Comment:
No hiring of boards, just hiring of jet-skis . . . and parasails, which will still be landing on the beaches. But apparently that's ''not commercial.''
Given this logic fishing from the shore/beach or crabing/throw netting should also be illegal? Unless the catch is returned, consumed or given away......
Posted by
paul
on
October 28, 2014 11:41
Editor Comment:
No money changes hands in fishing so it's not a commercial transaction in a public place.
Don't have to add anything really except it just adds to Phuket's Madness!!!!!!
Posted by
phuket madness
on
October 28, 2014 11:54
The one and only sport that i enjoyed that i didn't feel like i would be scammed or hassled, has now been scrapped.
Never seen a country go backwards as fast as Thailand.
One step forward 5 steps back, put someone in charge that makes a difference and makes the right calls, to then take him away so some other puppet takes over to become the scape goat.
Unbelievable.
Posted by
ohno
on
October 28, 2014 12:02
Editor Comment:
The shocking thing is that the 10 metres of sand at the shorefront above the waterline is declared public space but the 10 metres of water below the tidemark is private, for jet-skis. Swimmers apparently have no rights.
Patong is a public beach but not a public swimming beach. This is ridiculous.
Beach access for boats in regattas to be banned next?
Posted by
Duncan
on
October 28, 2014 12:07
Editor Comment:
The renting of boats is clearly an issue. Apparently, with parasails as an exception, all commercial activities are banned on the sand but may take place in the water. If the waves are moving backwards and forwards as they usually do, your transaction may be legal one moment . . .illegal the next . . . legal one moment . . . illegal the next. The whole thing is farcical.
Maybe they could have surfboard platforms in the sea also, and floating bars.
Posted by
phonus
on
October 28, 2014 12:27
This is one crazy idea. Surfing & body boarding is a proper water sport enjoyed by many who go to the beach.
I started my sister, who could not swim at that time, with a boogie board at Kata Beach, & with a mask & snorkel. She is now a fully fledged advanced open water SCUBA diver with 150+ dives logged in Phuket (day & liveaboard trips).
That is considerable income to Phuket for the many holiday trips (food & accommodation) + dive trips, etc.
All started with a boogie board!
Posted by
Logic
on
October 28, 2014 12:30
OK the doomsayers win. This really does your head in. Where is the logic!
Posted by
Davemc60
on
October 28, 2014 12:46
Sunbeds on floats or pontoons. Maybe can get a ride from the beach to the sunbed on a jet ski!
Posted by
Manowar
on
October 28, 2014 12:46
What about scuba divers at Kata, Karon and Paradise Beach?
Can they still do beach dives with customers???
Posted by
Tyler
on
October 28, 2014 12:48
Been north in Chiang mai for a few days,,, back today and this is the first thing i read... no doomsayers allowed here so lets not say - what did i say - but to be honest i think few of us are surprised ... this is one of the most ridiculous things this week. month,year,decennium .... whats next?
Ban private vehicles on all patong roads and give them to the Tuk Tuks. and give the Ping POng Thugs guns and free jaabaa? good luck Phuket
Posted by
frog
on
October 28, 2014 12:53
well..leave it up to Phuket to not only go in the opposite direction but to also double talk themselves into outright lies re' how they envision this place to be...It is sadly amusing...you couldn't write material any better..or worse than this....They have become the laughing stock of the beach world.
Posted by
sky
on
October 28, 2014 13:50
Fantastic!
I have a long time unresolved question:
is it legal to pee into the sea or not?
and can it be done from the shore, as some lical guides occasionally practicize ? Or those people in the evening making a line along a Patong beach shore who seemingly look at the horizon?
If not, then can WCs +courtesy sweet water showers can be put on the beaches, every 200m , please, before any other issues are addressed?
Posted by
Sue
on
October 28, 2014 14:10
I imagine they will have to store their boards off the beach somewhere and post visible signs on or around the beach saying "Board hire available ". I wonder if they will be able to park their bikes loaded with boards the way they transport them to the beach and just not unpack them .Resourceful Thais will find a way around this. The whole thing gets messier by the day.
Posted by
carvets
on
October 28, 2014 14:18
"The ruling came from a representative of Phuket Marine Office 5 in response to", obviously not serving well by surfboard hirers some implied interests, or lack of reliable system to take a proper account thereof.
Posted by
Sue
on
October 28, 2014 15:50
No surfboards, no place to sit on the beach in the shade, yet the jetski mafia continues operations complete with keepout areas for tourists (versus keep in areas fr jetskis). Though my favorite vacation destination, Phuket is now off my list of beach places to go, as it will be for many tourists - nobody wants skin cancer and nobody wants to pay 50,000B for a half hour run on a jetski
Posted by
idiot_w_abriad
on
October 28, 2014 16:48
Phuket had its chance to change - its clearly a victory for the Jet Skis and Parasail business.
It wont be long before everything is back to normal on Phuket.
A victory for the realists.
Posted by
Phuket Saviour
on
October 28, 2014 17:16
Editor Comment:
If you want to be realistic, call it a victory for the do-nothing defeatists. The people who think that by commenting here, they are doing their bit. The dingbats and the doomsayers.
Tell me, why do you call yourself ''Phuket Saviour?''
I lived in quit a few of countries. I stranded here many years ago. I Got married when my Thai girlfriend became pregnant from me. I love my kid. She is my one and only reason to stay alive and to stay here. I don't want to leave Thailand for her sake and my love for her. But after all disappoinments, crap, lies, corruption and greed I have witnessed her I felt/feel unhappy with the system and political madness. After May 22nd I became optimistic. I got Hope. Slowly my hope changed into confidence and trust for the future. I started feeling happy again.
But last week announces and fresh developments are destroying all my hope and optimism. They show a huge setback, yes "WE ARE BACK TO ZERO".
Corruption and Greed seems to be the chosen winners her. Thailands Ricebowl gets sacrificed for a few "untouchables" to devide it all and soon the broken bowl will leave the majority with empty hands, empty stomach and a destroyed image and a natural disaster.
We can blame the "farangs" a lot but not for the current chooses made by the Thai authorities.
Posted by
phuketgreed
on
October 28, 2014 17:48
no chairs no embrellas all hotels in phuket make marketing in newspapers internet etc with embrellas and chairs the germans dutsch swiss europeans will go too the court against the hotels because they offer beach with accommodation what not exist the problems will come soon the big hotels will sun do something !!!!!!
Posted by
donaldo
on
October 28, 2014 18:10
Be careful alan - the navy is about to lock you up the rest of the government may throw away the key if you continue your personal opinion.....
Posted by
Paul smith
on
October 28, 2014 19:07
Editor Comment:
It must be Halloween. The evil clowns are out.
This afternoon is the first Jet Ski appears in Nai Harn Beach. Direct right through the swimming people who cried out for fear. Parking in the middle of the sand (and the trailer) a laughing Lifeguard goes back into the shadow. Although the Jet-Ski perhaps belongs to the lifeguard team, it is a shame how the behave, without Respect opposite the tourists.
Posted by
steve
on
October 28, 2014 19:22
Apparently there is just to much money in the jetski and parasailing business.
I often spend times at Patong beach and this is the facts:
-Jetski and parasailers starts to operate early in the morning. When I use to arrive around 10 a.m. the parasailers are already in the air all along the beach. They are then in the air, almost without any single break, until sunset around 6:30 p.m.
Just a few weeks ago I sat and watched one parasail operator and took the time to see how long every customer was in the air. The time was exactly 2 minutes.
Then the parachute was about 2 minutes on the ground before the next rider was in the air for two minutes. And so it went on!
The price for a two minutes ride is 1.500 baht.
Now lets do the math:
One hour means 15 flights.
15 flights x 1.500 baht = 22.500 baht/hour.
Starting time lets say 10 a.m. and finishing time lets say 6 p.m. Thats 8 hours (for real they are operating more than 8 hours)
8 hours x 22.500 baht = 180.000 baht.
180.000 BAHT EACH DAY. SEVEN DAYS A WEEK!! On one parachute!
This is probably one of the best business on all of the island!
With the power of that big money, you think someone can stop them...?? :)
However, I think the jetskis and the parasilares will go away anyway in a not to remote future.
When overseas tourists comes here and discover that the beaches of Phuket have changed from a sun & bath beach with sunbeds, umbrellas, coconut servings and massage stalls to a noicy, smelly jetski and parasailing only beach, they will for sure chose another place for their future holidays.
With no tourists, everyone from the smallest coconut vendor to the bigest resorts AND the jetsky/parasail operators are big losers!
This truely is an unbelievible decission and a very sad day for the ones that wanted all the best for Phuket and Phuketians!!
The rest of the world will laugh at Phuket: No sunbeds, umbrellas or coconuts. Instead lots of jestskis and speedboats!!
Posted by
PhuketFriendly
on
October 28, 2014 19:40
Editor Comment:
jestskis and parasites are the technical terms.
@stevenl
At Nai Harn as far as I observed it all water sports were operated by lifeguards.
It explained a rational to go for lifeguard job for minuscule salary to get a control over a beach as a profit center.
I try to extrapolate such set up to other beaches, however Patong or Kata seems to be under different setup of control.
Posted by
Sue
on
October 28, 2014 20:26
Well jet ski's boys best milk it for what it's worth this high season because it will be last for the beaches and them.
The plan was to restore beaches to their natural state for all to enjoy. Amendable plan but let's look at final score card.
- Sunbeds removed (This one is most controversial one, some liked, some did not)
- Umbrellas/Shade removed. Unless you live here or planning to spend most of you holiday on the beach you are not going to fork out for an umbrella you cannot take with you, especially if in hotel with pool, umbrella, chair at no extra cost (These hotels are going to have bumper high season this year...next? Not so much) No one who wants to live long is going to spend extended time at beach with no shade (which funny enough will seriously impact jet ski's/parasail revenue, they are normally impulse buys to break up long day at beach)
- Removal of chair operators means beaches are getting DIRTY, they used to keep their patches clean, now no one really does
- Huge parts of waterline given over to jet skis. Basically these will become no swim zones due to danger and filthy water conditions
- Vendor fixed positions gone but not vendors themselves, so now get hassled every minute by someone walking up to you trying to sell you something
- Now boards are pretty much out, so no clean, safe, environmentally activity to do (Who pays to fly a board to phuket? Do they think it' Hawaii?)
Looking at this feel reasonable secure in predicting that except for Mid Dec- main Jan beaches will be relatively empty and rest of time be a ghost town.
And god help anyone who depends on Phuket for income next year, because once word gets out that one of main attractions is pretty much gone tourists will not be coming back anytime soon, if ever.
Posted by
Lashay
on
October 28, 2014 22:44
Perhaps this is all some master plan that we small folk have not yet worked out... perhaps removing the sunbed and umbrellas is intended to entice tourists OFF the beach and thus reduce the income of jetskis and parasails so they go out of business (rather than those that think they have power but clearly don't actually have as much as they think they have, remove them from the beach, thus avoiding confrontation). Method in the madness? Just a thought...
Posted by
Duncan
on
October 29, 2014 09:01
Absolutely shameful and nauseating..
One wonders if there are even Thai words for ethics and integrity. Maybe just one word covers it...Baht.
Posted by
david
on
October 29, 2014 09:25
I thought the new Thai PM wanted to make Phuket the model province for the whole country. Is there a way we can ask him how he could let this happen? Can we send e-mails to his office or contact his Administration directly for some assistance concerning this lack of authority ?Ed. Can you assist in giving concerned Phuket citizens a way to lodge their complaints to the PM's Office ?
Posted by
zig
on
October 29, 2014 09:39
Editor Comment:
Best direct written complaints to the Damrungtam office at Phuket Provincial Hall or via the NCPO island headquarters at the Royal Thai Navy base at Cape Panwa. We don't have an email address. Honorary consuls may provide access through embassies, too.
I have been a tourist to Phuket for the last 10 years often twice a year but now under this new regime sorry to say but no more will we return. Lots and lots of tourists think the same. Tourists are being driven away in droves
Posted by
dave
on
October 29, 2014 10:09
Editor Comment:
No tourists are being ''driven away,'' dave. What in particular makes you think Phuket won't be welcoming?
Really strange ruling... does not make sense.
Posted by
J
on
October 29, 2014 13:44
Editor Comment:
There were no tourists or beach swimmers at the meeting. It appears as those only the needs of the jet-ski operators were served.
Phuket beaches are back in the middle ages, bring your own surf board, bring your own umbrella, bring your own chair / sunbed, bring your own everything. Might as well go to my holiday house where I already have everything and dont have to travel 12 hours by plane for the privilege. Imagine the luggage issues to cart all this with us through customs. At least the scams from jetski's will be available to the tourists. Undoubtably our favourite destination is troubled. The question is, how long before sanity prevails.
Posted by
Paul
on
October 29, 2014 15:42
Editor Comment:
Yes, no need to take the 12-hour trip, Paul. Everything you need is at your holiday house.
Phuket Marine Office 5 is now in charge to look after banning the environmental friendly surfboards. Well, Well, Is Phuket Marine Office 5 also in charge of that Racha Hotel case? That hotel, already 3 years polluting the reefs, corals and sea bottom around Racha Island with releasing untreated polluted waste water? When do we hear that problem will be out of the world?
Posted by
Kurt
on
October 29, 2014 20:08
Editor Comment:
Marine Office 5 has no say over surfboards because that's a sport.
Unbelievable. I am fortunately one who frequently visits and has my own surfboard to use, but not to promote a healthy , relatively safe and eco friendly holiday activity by removing the option to rent surfboards is so opposite to the direction I thought Phuket was heading in. The Jet ski/ Parasailing cartel must have immense influence to be able to remain in operation. I honestly believe this influence may be that strong that the sunbeds will return when the revenue drops for both Jet ski and Parasailing operators .
Posted by
surfersam
on
October 31, 2014 21:40
Hell just ban every thing.
I think people laying on towels are a eye sore and towels should be banned.
Please cut down the shade trees so the
tourist riff-raff can not hang out there.
For sure no more sunbeds or umbrellas.
Any one that wants to be served a cool
drink on a hot day are imperialist dogs
and should be banned as well.
Surfing is a very elitist sport and God
only knows what its doing to the environment ban all rentals and all
surfing for that matter.
Any one selling anything on the beach
should get a one way ticket to the monkey house pronto..
But the jet ski rentals are such ambassadors of good will unselfishness
that we can not ever ban them ever
for any reason...
Posted by
Mark
on
November 1, 2014 04:00
Man this is heartbreaking???my myanmar friends sponsored by a thai boss), were working the umbrellas and in the low seson the bulk of their money coming from surfboard rentals and lessons???.are all now out of work???we all loved our surfing and respected the beach and ocean???keeping it klean???..but now its a freaking mess???..Surf tourism is a massive global industry so who ever come up with this idea is out of their minds???maybe they can rent boards out of a shop hopefully???..and if thats the case i wonder if we'll be able to give the lessons too? Ive had the best times/waves of my life in Karon???Im pretty pissed off about it ???.
Posted by
angry surfer
on
November 1, 2014 10:42
will we still be allowed to rent boards from surfshops that provide this business. like in bali for example?
hopefully they can work around this..some of the lifeguards around have their own boards will they be able to surf .or rent them out on the sly?
Posted by
freaaked out
on
November 1, 2014 10:46
I think it would be appropriate to introduce some new, more contemporary geographical designations:
Parasail Beach in place of Patong beach
Su-Ski Beach in place of Surin beach
and so on.
Posted by
Sue
on
November 1, 2014 13:42
And of course Pansea Beach could become Pansy Beach for the Sues of this world!
Posted by
Pete
on
November 1, 2014 14:26
Pete, they have already named a famous canal after her and his plumbing associates in Egypt.
Posted by
Manowar
on
November 1, 2014 15:44
...only if Petes of the world would lease their companionship to T.Cooks of the world , either like donors or donees,or both
Posted by
Sue
on
November 1, 2014 15:47
Obviously Bang Yai is a plumbing monument , is it why there is many plumbers from all over the world, especially, from Australia flocking to Phuket?
And giving number of visitors - on-lookers near every 2nd building sites, discussing details of how similar jobs are done back home, I guess Australian electricians chose similar sightseeing over Wats, jungles and islands.
When someone asks what's wrong with BangLa and Patong, is that bars are filled in with people of such calibre which you never seat nearby in restaurants in Europe, and here they finally got a chance to spend money to be serviced in distinction provding a plumbing service back home.
So far back in Europe never fancied bars and pubs popular with plumbers and electricians , but here are main segment of visitors.
Posted by
Sue
on
November 1, 2014 16:04
@Sue:
If you are referring to Tim Cook, Apple CEO, then you've got things the wrong way round. You should donate yourself as companionship.
Posted by
Pete
on
November 1, 2014 16:37
Sue,
Your Ximenes method of communication will often be misunderstood by us mere mortals.
Posted by
Manowar
on
November 1, 2014 17:15
Pete,
Would you really want Sue to get her hands on TC's hard or software. Could you imagine the problems with the next iPhone release or software update!
Posted by
Manowar
on
November 1, 2014 17:24
Pete, I think you could write to California, may be someone there will like you, and then just arrange rendezvous at Pansy beach.
Many Thai transgender personas have a happy family life still while providing a service to wider public who have intetest it.
So why not white male would not solicite himselves from time to time under similar circumstances,and to other persons, incl.males who have interest in them and are able to help a bit?
C'mon Pete, to bring an extra dime back to the wife in Isaan, so why not? Every dime counts. Just relax and take it easy!
Posted by
Sue
on
November 1, 2014 19:08
Now I am sure that something fishy is going on with Marine office 5! Definitely a problem here . Up to everyone to find out and complain to the authorities who decided to give back the beaches to the people.( that said I enjoyed the following posts!)
Posted by
Elizabeth
on
November 2, 2014 05:11
The Jet Ski Mob owns Phuket now. When will the NCPO come to their senses?
Posted by
Pinot
on
November 3, 2014 12:41
They should put Sunbeds on the tops of the trees at the back of the beach.
That way tourists can have shade sitting underneath the tree and more tourists can sit on top on the Sunbeds. This idea will work as it's legal for private business 10 meters below the tidemark, this way it will be 10 metres above the tidemark. You can just make little steps near the tree to get on the Sunbed.
Posted by
Gracey
on
November 3, 2014 13:37
Always ready to help Ed.
Complain here - it will be more effective (perhaps!).
NCPO opens hotlines based on 1111
The National Council for Peace and Order (NCPO) has launched a 24-hour 1111 Contact Centre which offers four channels for the general public to send in their complaints, tip-offs, suggestions and critiques.
The four channels are - www.1111.go.th, Hotline Call Centre 1111 (extension 2), PO Box 1111 (stamps not needed) and contact in person at NCPO's Contact Centre at Gate 4 of Government House
Posted by
Evilbaz
on
November 3, 2014 20:16
I guess the surfboards were cramping the jet ski's space so they had to go. No one crosses the jet ski operators. Probably ban sun bathing on a towel next (if they haven't already).
Posted by
Craig Gold Coast
on
November 4, 2014 10:56
How can the goverment banned my own umbrella for my grandchild
He is 1,5 year old
They must crazy if they think tourist will come back
We been here for 10 years with our family but sadly this will be the last time of they not change
Posted by
Thomas Tagheim
on
November 5, 2014 17:54
Editor Comment:
Your own umbrella is fine. People visiting Phuket's beaches now bring their own umbrellas. Your grandchild will grow up in a world where nature is left alone, wherever that's possible.
I read editor coment
Police said yesterday that its aslo own umbrellas is banned
but we also heard from other people that own umbrellas is ok to use
we been trying to find out what is true or not
I cant imagient that the goverment mean that a normal family can not go to the beach and enjoy without an umbrella to protect there child from sunburn or overheating
If the beach are for the people and the public they should care more about childrens safty then jet ski vendors, thats is surtenly not they why to restore the beaches
Give the beaches back to the familys
Posted by
Thomas Tagheim
on
November 6, 2014 06:52
Ban the jet-skis and paragliders from Phuket! Noisy, useless, dangerous, ...stay on governement land! Who protects the rich owners of this pest?
Posted by
Reddy
on
November 6, 2014 10:49
"Police said yesterday that its aslo own umbrellas is banned
but we also heard from other people that own umbrellas is ok to use
we been trying to find out what is true or not"
Nice to see that private umbrellas might be forbidden now as well, or maybe Thomas has only forgotten or refused to pay the Police??? What next? No more blankets, no more towels, beach forbidden for tourists - only allowed for natives?
I can here already hear the Editor abusing me as doomsayer.....
Editor: where is you comment to this issue? Usually you are so quick with insulting tourists who impertinently require sunbeds and umbrellas?
Posted by
Bregoulou
on
November 6, 2014 18:11
Editor Comment:
Readers can tell the serious comments from the non-serious ones.
It is really unbelievable! Thailand's government is quickly becoming a laughing stock to the rest of the world with its total lack of common sense
Posted by
Mr Wolf
on
November 16, 2014 11:29
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Amazing - I assume, for now, surfing isn't illegal?
Posted by paul on October 28, 2014 11:23
Editor Comment:
Bring your own board, then fight your way past the jet-skis.