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Phuket Beaches Gain 10 Percent Zone From November 24, Says Governor
By Prasit Tarnsirisin and Keryn Reynolds Thursday, October 29, 2015
PHUKET: With Phuket's beaches looking more inviting than ever, a meeting of island authorities today set November 24 as the date for implementing the ''10 percent zone'' rule.
Governor Jamleran Tipayapongtada made the point to a gathering of about 100 administrators at Phuket Provincial Hall that it was a concept that he had inherited from his predecessor.
And, he added, those who were going to be employed would be ''very, very poor.'' Service vendors would be employed by local authorities, he said, not by private enterprise.
Meanwhile, a special committee will continue to look at the ''10 percent zone'' to see whether it was effective, and to cancel it if necessary.
All commerce - with the sole exception of jet-skis and parasailers - was cleared from Phuket's prime tourist beaches soon after the military took charge of Thailand in May last year. The change was dramatic, with thousands of sunbeds and illegal beach clubs and restaurants disappearing.
A visit by Phuketwan to Kata beach today produced sparkling images that the ''new Phuket'' is far more appealing without sunbeds covering almost the entire sweep of sand.
One key point of contention remains - tourists who bring their own umbrellas and mats will be obliged to hunker in the ''10 percent zone.'' The restriction is unusual and out of kilter with the casual, relaxed approach of world-class beaches elsewhere.
Whether the ''10 percent zone'' works at Phuket's most popular beaches - Patong, Kamala, Surin and Nai Harn - remains to be seen. Elderly European veterans especially have been put off Phuket by the new rule that only allows mats under umbrellas in the ''10 percent zone,'' and just towels on the other 90 percent of every beach.
Governor Jamleran said today: ''The former Governor of Phuket implemented the 10 percent rule and I would like to follow the 10 percent rule.''
The governor said he understood that beach workers were affected by this rule and that the new 10 percent areas would allow the government to test how having workers in this restricted area would work.
A special association for every beach will be set up to determine whether the 10 percent beach rule is successful or not.
''I expect these associations will manage the whole beach as well, not just the 10 per cent area,'' Governor Jamleran said.
The governor said he had spoken to the Land Department about the implementation of the 10 percent zones.'' Every beach on Phuket would be public land and nobody could conduct transactions on the beach outside the 10 percent area, he said.
Governor Jamleran also said that he would create another committee to review the work conducted by registered beach workers to ensure that legitimate workers who had suffered from the 10 percent policy of the government were not further disadvantaged.
Vice Governor Chokdee Amornwat added: ''After Thursday November 5 I will go and inspect every beach to see what is happening in the 10 percent areas.''
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Comments
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"Every beach on Phuket would be public land and nobody could conduct transactions on the beach outside the 10 percent area, he said."
Hmmm, unless you want to make money with a jet ski or parasail. Really.
Posted by
dsingapore
on
October 29, 2015 17:20
Yup..that's the traditional way to dance around problems, appoint a committee, or two.
Looks like the Governor is setting it up so that when he is forced to jettison the 10% rule, no one will lose face.
Posted by
Sir Burr
on
October 29, 2015 17:54
quote: "nobody could conduct transactions on the beach outside the 10 percent area", he said.
OK, this is going to be interesting. All the parachutes and jet-skis plus the vendors along with tourists in a ten percent stretch of patong beach. Who want to be there????
Posted by
A Joe
on
October 29, 2015 17:56
Before coming to Phuket, all tourists will be required to take and pass a beach entrance exam to validate their understanding of when and where they are allowed to go and what they are and are not allowed to bring...Study pamplets will be sent to their homes 3 months prior to their scheduled flights in order to give them ample time to study. If anyone fails they will have a large red colored "B" enclosed in a circle with a line going through it, painted on their chest so they can be easily identified by Phukets finest and forbidden to physically be within 100 meters of any beach at anytime....Welcome to Phuket!
Posted by
sky
on
October 29, 2015 18:10
I'm discombobulated (as Brad Pitt is fond of saying) by this confusion. I'd dearly like to understand why a simple beach rule omitting commercial dealings on said strands would be compromised and yes, I'd love to add 'something of value' to this forum but am at a loss for words at how year after year, season after season, Phuket administrators shoot this idea in the foot when it comes to attracting instead of repelling decent, law-abiding people. After all, Phuket's beaches are time after time lauded as its major draws aren't they? Officials, ever since I've been in Thailand time after time state that Phuket is a 'World-Class Destination". Muddied or muddled thinking is not unique to Phuket (witness the US debates prior to the elections) but after all these years?
Isn't there one person who can state attainable objectives and perhaps realise them?
Posted by
Sam Wilko
on
October 29, 2015 18:23
Editor Comment:
The beaches are world-class and the confusion sets new records.
The worst beasts are still roaming Phuket Beaches and touting tourists to buy jet-ski and parasailing tours without having a TAT Licence 31/007 for "Inbound Tourism business".
Posted by
WhistleBlower
on
October 29, 2015 18:38
Wondering how or who is allowing Paradise Beach to be closed. Security apparently turn people away & it is supposedly being turned into a beach club. If this is true then more the pity.
Posted by
Leigh
on
October 29, 2015 19:20
Editor Comment:
Paradise is backed by private land. A resort is being constructed there and opening soon.
Another day - another fudge !
The issue is so contentious that it does indeed seem clear the governor is using this as it was his predecessor's idea, so when it all goes wrong he can pass the buck.
Don't really blame him to be honest.
As other posters have said, the only real resolution is to follow the law and ban all commerce. Hopefully that will be the next step after the inevitable failure or the 10% rule. "We tried but it didn't work, so we have to ban everything"
Again, the real issue is the jet skis and parasails, not the guys selling drinks and icecreams.
"Brave enough to change"?
Clearly not !
Posted by
Discover Thainess
on
October 29, 2015 19:45
So..If my family and friends want to go to the beach, put up our umbrellas and spread out our towels and beach toys within the 10% zone, those vendors are going to be fine with this? Aren't we taking over their prime spots to earn a living? They are going to be ok with this? It will not cause confrontations over space? They will not ask us to move when a paying customer wants a space and rental umbrella? Has the committee considered this? Trouble ahead, trouble behind...
Posted by
bodysurf Nai harn
on
October 29, 2015 20:06
The new governor is not smarter then the previous one, he also not get the message. He will have in the future more and more poor people as many hotels will lay off staff as tourists will not come back anymore. He will be able to fill up his 10% zone with poor local people as the tourists will all be gone.
Posted by
Eric
on
October 29, 2015 20:20
John Cleese, on his latest tour promoting his new book, says that 90% of people don't know what the f**k what they're talking about. I think this is pertinent. And now for something completely different.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uYaDx2Zxlqg
Posted by
Sam Wilko
on
October 29, 2015 20:29
So jet skis and parasailing operations get 90 percent and treat the 10 percent as a perceived nuisance on their beach to be driven away another wonderful short sighted scheme which will prove a failure.
Posted by
slickmelb
on
October 30, 2015 00:07
'All commerce - with the sole exception of jet-skis and parasailers - was cleared from Phuket's prime tourist beaches soon after the military took charge of Thailand in May last year. '
Oh no it wasn't- approximately ten businesses had continued to ply their trade on Kamala Beach for the past 28 months.
Mind you this is the same Gov Phuketwan gave credit to for 'breakig' the taxi mafia (bearing in mind PW said there was no 'Mafia in Phuket) thnat still continue to ply their trade across the island
Posted by
Mister Ree
on
October 30, 2015 02:07
Editor Comment:
No doubt you have more fingers and toes than the rest of us but by our count, it's only 16 months since the beaches were cleared. Before then, commerce was tolerated. We are sure you will be thrilled with news sources once PW is gone.
"A visit by Phuketwan to Kata beach today produced sparkling images that the ''new Phuket'' is far more appealing without sunbeds covering almost the entire sweep of sand."
What is the point of appealing beaches if you cannot use them without getting fried, lying on a sweaty beach mat?
Posted by
Shwe
on
October 30, 2015 06:55
Phuket Authorities keep drumming 10% zoning. Still intend to bully and hammer tourists at the beaches.
I would love to read a interview with the Governor in one of the Phuket newspapers in which the Governor can explain anything about the present jet skies and para sailing business situation. At least explain why these are above the thai laws and rules regarding public beaches, and are able to do what they want. ( even have their own chairs and umbrellas at the beaches).
It seems they are loved as the "Phuket untouchables". What is the secret?
Posted by
Kurt
on
October 30, 2015 07:20
Just walking along the 'pavement' avoiding the motorbikes at the back of Patong beach I was asked if I wanted sunglasses by no less than 8 people & hassled by the usual jet-ski, massage & taxi crews. It's not relaxing, more like fly-swatting! "Mai Ao krup" is my standard response but maybe I'll record it & just press a 'play' button in future. These schemes are unworkable & doomed to failure & they WILL NOT be policed effectively, I'm sure. Setting up committees to 'investigate' some possibilities are just compromises aimed to pacify certain affected people & deflect blame. They are a waste of time & money & will not produce any valuable conclusions in my opinion. Tackle the real problems - the jet-skis & parasails....but they won't as they don't dare. The taxi mobs & jet-skis are intertwined though & this could be why they're still there clogging up the place. If the taxi mob survives so will jet-skis...back to the drawing board!
Posted by
Anonymous
on
October 30, 2015 10:48
Today had to go to Patong, once or twice a year I visit the West coast, if you see this big long Patong beach, with two pathetic small with yellow floaters pre arranged fenced off swimming sections, it is a laugh, with big signs on the on the other parts of the beach (jet ski and para sailing property) saying forbidden to swim here, go to the yellow floater sections, never seen something this stupid, and the jet skis crash/slide onto the beach at 20knts........
Posted by
Chris
on
October 30, 2015 15:09
I am older man and handicap, how I can stay only on the mat? Why the Vice Governor don't try it and stay on the mat for one day. After he will understand, what he want from the Tourist who bring the business and the money to Phuket. Since more then 20 years we come to Phuket for 6 - 8 weeks. But now it is impossible to come. He push us out from Phuket. Thanks a lot for he's unfriendly.
Posted by
Anonymous
on
October 30, 2015 15:34
Editor Comment:
Most Thais would never lie in the sun, even under an umbrella, anonymous. The problem is that tourists haven't been consulted and the decisions have been made by people who couldn't figure out why people would want to lie on the beach in the first place. There is a lack of appreciation for the people who bring the money. In listening only to the people who want the money, the authorities have got it wrong.
"There is a lack of appreciation for the people who bring the money" Wise words, in this season the west coast society will experience, who brought the money.
Posted by
Sherlock
on
October 30, 2015 18:54
The vice-governor who prohibits sunbeds is like the pope who prohibits the use of condoms.
Posted by
Marcello
on
October 30, 2015 20:29
@Ed.
Your replies to Chris and Anonymous are spot on, couldnt agree more. Such a shame that decisions are being made by people that dont understand the issues.
As other posters have said, they will not come back to Phuket again. My 80+ year old mother will be in Phuket for christmas and she will absolutely need a chair to sit on the beach.
I can't wait for someone to ask her to move. My mother reminds me of Margaret Thatcher sometimes, I think whoever braves her will get a good and well deserved tongue lashing !
Posted by
Discover Thainess
on
October 30, 2015 23:12
@ Eric and Marcello, you both hit the nail on the head.
Actually tourists should boycott the Phuket beaches as long the beaches are not welcoming them in a normal way as it happens in the rest of the world.
Tourists are not for the beaches, beaches are for the tourists.
Posted by
Kurt
on
October 30, 2015 23:44
Marcello,
At least the pope realises that people are being f%????ed over and hasnt limited such activity to those in the 10% cages.
On second thought, about 10% of priests seemed to have received protection over the last 40 years from higher sources.
Posted by
MoW
on
October 31, 2015 03:31
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"Every beach on Phuket would be public land and nobody could conduct transactions on the beach outside the 10 percent area, he said."
Hmmm, unless you want to make money with a jet ski or parasail. Really.
Posted by dsingapore on October 29, 2015 17:20