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Phuket Jet-Ski Free No Longer: Machines Return to Private Profit at Public Patong Beach
By Phuketwan Reporters Thursday, November 20, 2014
PHUKET: Jet-skis and parasailers returned to Patong today despite an undertaking that they would remain off the beach until the Asian Beach Games end on Phuket on Sunday.
Without the jet-skis, the parasailers, sunbeds and umbrellas, Patong beach has been a showcase for the bright future of the holiday island if it chooses to follow the example set by Krabi and Phang Nga and become jet-ski free.
A test of nerve is likely at a key meeting between Phuket authorities who have responsibility for controlling beach activities and Thailand's military authorities next Thursday, days after the Games end.
The clearly-commercial activities of the jet-ski operators and the parasailers has continued despite the Army clearing Phuket's beaches and foreshores of illegal vendors and most restaurants and beach clubs that were illicitly misusing public space.
Just days ago, the President of the Jet-Ski Association of Patong, Nucha Petchvimol, said that jet-skis would be off Phuket's beaches for the duration of the Games.
But today he said that now that the jet-ski races off Patong beach were over, the operators had the endorsement of Phuket's Marine 5 Office to return.
The Director of Kathu District, Saiyan Chanachaiwong, told Phuketwan that there were plans under consideration that would see the jet-skis forced off Patong beach, into the water, and the beach zoned for jet-skis, swimmers and sunbeds.
Just how jet-skis would conduct their hire businesses from the water, without touching the sands above the waterline, has yet to be explained.
The parasailers at Patong have been taking off directly into the water in recent weeks but still landing horizontally along the beach, a danger as always to others and a blatant private use of public land.
Virtually all the top beaches in the world are free of jet-skis, parasailers and rented sunbeds.
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Comments
Comments have been disabled for this article.
'Virtually all the top beaches in the world are free of jet-skis, parasailers and rented sunbeds.'
Which means TAT & local authorities are no longer trying to attract quality or top end tourists ... IF they don't have 'top beaches' to offer.
Posted by
Logic
on
November 20, 2014 13:27
The jet ski operators obviously have the Phuket's Marine 5 Office in their pocket. Its a joke. The Editor here is totally biased towards sunbeds despite the feedback so its really worthless protesting. I will be sad not having Xmas in Phuket as we have done for the last 15 years but guess that's life though I feel very sorry for all the local people who have been and will be going forward so badly affected by these poorly thought out decisions. Thank you Editor for allowing us to have our say even if you did slag off at us as being lotus eating layabouts.
Posted by
Craig Gold Coast
on
November 20, 2014 13:48
Editor Comment:
PW is biased towards sunbeds? Hardly. We remain perfectly balanced and actually in favor of preserving the island's beaches and promoting the future of tourism on Phuket. The generation that have become devoted to sunbeds fails to understand that times have changed and this is the 21st century. There are plenty of alternative jobs for those who have been displaced.
you have to ask the question.... have ANY of these officials ever spent a day on the beach before?? i even wonder if they even know where the beach is.....
Posted by
DG
on
November 20, 2014 13:55
Editor Comment:
That's part of the problem. Nobody seeks the opinion of the tourists. The truth is not being told about the jet-skis, the scams and the lack of interest by the vast majority of visitors in this needless and noisy activity.
There must be somebody who has something on someone to allow them to operate with impunity. I watched in disbelief as a beach boy on a jet-ski nearly ran over 2 swimmers on Patong Beach this morning, and they laughed about it!!! I took pictures!!!
Posted by
hotgem
on
November 20, 2014 13:59
We hoped and hoped... and alas, we were wrong. They are back, but for how long? IMHO they will be gone one day, but I feel that one day is longer off than most hope.
Posted by
Duncan
on
November 20, 2014 14:41
@hotgem... It is obvious the jetski mafia boys are protected. They are making someone a lot of money and whomever that is will not go quietly into the night. At last count there was 280+ "registered" jetskis, at lets say 1000 baht a day per jetski to their benefactors that is huge money. That is why the last "clear the beach" lasted just 4 days and that is also why they can change the rules as they did this week. See who is giving them permission to follow the money. 250,000 baht a day is not small money. This is all simply a theory...
Posted by
James Bond
on
November 20, 2014 14:42
As a beach user which has personally been run over by a jetski and has suffered constant back and shoulder nerve damage since, I would like to propose that tourists bring their own jetski to the beach with their umbrella.
Posted by
Hugh Jarse
on
November 20, 2014 14:45
Good luck to Craig Gold Coast getting a sunbed at Surfers Paradise
Sunbeds would be fine by me if the operators did not think they owned the beach
BTW how much have the operators put back into the Patong community same for para sails and jet-skis
Don't tell me ....I know the result...the big O
Posted by
Phuket Stan
on
November 20, 2014 14:58
Balance Alan - what a joke there is no way you are balanced not even in your mind...you are very biased towards your own personal opinion, you slag off other readers if it doesnt suit you and you only publish what you want....I doubt you will publish this because it steps on your toes....cant you see this is why the Navy want to shut you down....silly boy !!
Posted by
Alan Pickering
on
November 20, 2014 15:32
Editor Comment:
Readers can tell when ego are running out of control, AP, and when opinions are based on fiction, not fact. I am not interested in comments that fail to add value and I certainly give as good as I get when people who have nothing to add fall back instead on attacking the editor. If you think the Navy is suing us over jet-skis, the sun has clearly got to your head. You comment is an empty-headed waste of time and space.
The jet ski mob have the Marine 5 office in their hip pocket. You can't let these local officials/politicos make any decisions.
Posted by
Kamalala
on
November 20, 2014 17:25
(moderated) Hardly progress Alan!
Posted by
Feisty Farang
on
November 20, 2014 17:52
Editor Comment:
Let me say this one more time, FF. The journalism on PW is quite separate from the comments but we still have standards that oblige us to moderate comments, especially those from bigots. If you have something sensible and constructive to say about some other topic, we won't stop you. Bigots sometimes can have just one blind spot. Are your bigotted comments ever going to appear here again, having debate the issues more than once? No, they are not. And please note that my reactions are usually in proportion to the rudeness of readers. As you remain an anonymous commenter in the Internet world, I would suggest that you stop taking FF seriously. This is not the real world.
what a surprise!
just more fodder for the doomsayers
Posted by
sky
on
November 20, 2014 18:13
Editor Comment:
Nothing of value in that comment, sky. Just the usual top-of-the-head mindlessness.
Craig Gold Coast:
Thanks for your comments. Don't feel sorry for the locals as they are fine and they won't notice your absence this Xmas and probably not either next Xmas'.
You haven't realized that Phuket tourism has been changed and the number of visitors have never been so high Craig. They are coming with RMBs and RUBs but who cares when it all exchanged to THBs :)
Low season has never been so HIGH as it's been these past couple of years!!!
By the way Craig, Phuket beaches are much nicer without those parasols. We look forward seeing Jet-skis & Parasailers OFF.
Posted by
Sam
on
November 20, 2014 22:21
So,.. we have a Director kathu district ( what are his responsebilities?) , a kathu police superintendent ( busy with traffic flows), a patong mayor, a marine 5 office, but the President of the Jet sky association runs the show. Right?
Posted by
Kurt
on
November 21, 2014 08:53
Editor Comment:
No. The jet-ski operators run the show.
All Jet Skis and parasailing should be totally banned from all beaches of Phuket
Posted by
Anonymous
on
November 21, 2014 10:31
The meer fact that they were not moved at the same time as the other commerical activities, clearly undermines the present authority, and raises many doubts.
Posted by
reader
on
November 21, 2014 11:39
so again moderated. lol.. can't see the difference between Mr Morrison and the Royal Thai Navy... u can only speak if u agree with me....... if not u got nothing to add...
Posted by
frog
on
November 21, 2014 14:10
Editor Comment:
You can say what you like as long as it adds value and it's within the law. There are times when your comments fail both tests. The comment above is a waste of your time, my time, and readers' time.
Hi first post here .
It will be interesting going back to Phuket in December.
I was almost hit by a jet-ski last December so I hope they get kicked off the beaches or restricted to a remote area.
Sunbeds I personally like its nice to get a bed and shade.
The sunbeds should have assigned areas and there should be open areas where people can use towels or chairs they bring.
The sunbeds should be operated by the government and the revenue should be used to improve Phuket and not fatten officials pockets.
Posted by
Guzzman
on
November 21, 2014 14:44
there are times when my comments fail both tests... or just don't fit u... u know i talk by experience and that i actually do add value but yes it is some hard truth that can be a problem ... but that we will never see a corruption free phuket is the truth. that police cannot survive here on a police salary is the truth. that its not only Royal Police now that want tea money is the truth... many of ur commenters don't even live here. i do and u knows that. u also knows that i am in the middle of it... always... the streets don't shine as pink as u think... the truth are little darker, it is interesting that u still believe that things actually will change nothing has change since the army got in power except the beach beds and umbrellas... took tucks are stronger than ever. jet skis also. taximeter are more expensive than black taxis. more authorities asking for key money now than before the coup and this is not only under supervision by any in charge but also approved .. don't say its not approved tho otherwise it would be gone and ended long time ago... so as long its still here the pure fact is that it is Approved.. i am not a doomsayer but i see it everyday and god only knows what will stop it?... and one more thing, everyone that don't know its is impossible to rat a police out.. u can do it the day u already left Thailand and never gonna return.. its not that u gonna get shot or any thing but things will change for u.. look at the patong entartainment people that treat to close for 3 days.. now patong needs to close at 2 am (which i am fine with btw) as a result.. that is pure retaliation.. its not that easy.. no one can stop it BUT the true in charge.. will they? i doubt it... have a nice weekend and i truly wish u good luck in ur fight... / Frog
Posted by
frog
on
November 21, 2014 15:49
Editor Comment:
You write about Patong, Frog, which is just a small, unrepresentative part of Phuket and one that grows less important as the island changes. Unless Patong changes faster, it will be left behind. We look at more than tea money, key money and tarts.
It's funny how this is only about the Jetski "maffia" at all times.. It's basically like everything else in this country, it's not maffia it's just untrained and lazy people running a business, completely banning is not nescesarry there just need to be rules and regulations to be FOLLOWED, like for example NOT renting to a drunk person and giving proper explanations on how to operate and where! It are dangerous toys I own several but they are only as dangerous as the person who operates it! I see some French guys here renting Yamaha R1 without any experience as well, it's also a murder weapon yet nobody says anything about that? Reality is mass tourism has to be entertained, there is a reason they rent out so easily! But agreed make guidelines and places to do it.. And as for umbrellas.. Now they say u can bring your own.. Lol.. Beaches gonna look so much better!! Like with all above, make rules and enforce them.. Same nice umbrellas cleanly put in 50% of the place so all can do what they want.. It's always all or nothing in this country and it doesn't make any sense..
Posted by
Anonymous
on
November 21, 2014 16:40
Editor Comment:
Enforcement has never been a strongpoint on Phuket, which is why it's not possible to have a small number of umbrellas. History has shown that within a short space of time, order and commonsense will be replaced by chaos, private profit and a large number of umbrellas.
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Wednesday November 27, 2024
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'Virtually all the top beaches in the world are free of jet-skis, parasailers and rented sunbeds.'
Which means TAT & local authorities are no longer trying to attract quality or top end tourists ... IF they don't have 'top beaches' to offer.
Posted by Logic on November 20, 2014 13:27