PHUKET: Authorities on Phuket hope to end scams involving jet-ski damage and insurance before the next tourist high season, Phuketwan has learned.
Vice Governor Jamleran Tipayapongtada said yesterday that his aim is to make the jet-ski operators take out full insurance instead of partial insurance.
''If holidaymakers want to hire a jet-ski, they should be happy to pay an hourly or half-hourly fee that covers the cost of complete insurance,'' Vice Governor Jamleran said.
''Problems have continued to occur because sometimes, the cost of repairs exceeds the amount covered by insurance.''
One recurring issue has been the 16,000 baht that the jet-ski operators insist on being paid for the time the jet-ski could be out of the water, being repaired.
Time out of the water is not at present covered by insurance. Sometimes, after the rider has been forced to pay the 16,000 baht, the damaged jet-ski is back in the water the following day.
Operators at Patong beach often demand excessive amounts for repairs, sometime two or three times the actual cost.
The demand usually has to be negotiated down. It's quite common for a group of jet-ski operators to surround and intimidate a rider who has the misfortune to damage a jet-ski.
Anyone caught in that situation is advised to tell the jet-ski operators to go with them to the local police station. It may also help to call your local honorary consul.
The jet-ski scams were raised over and over again by Phuket's honorary consuls before Governor Maitree Intrusud postponed their regular three-monthly forums indefinitely in November.
Money from tourism sustains Phuket and contributes large amounts of revenue to Bangkok.
However, Phuket authorities now seem more reluctant than ever to listen to complaints, or to reveal unseen dangers by providing accurate death tolls on Phuket's roads and from drownings at beaches and day-trip snorkelling spots.
Vice Governor Jamleran Tipayapongtada said yesterday that his aim is to make the jet-ski operators take out full insurance instead of partial insurance.
''If holidaymakers want to hire a jet-ski, they should be happy to pay an hourly or half-hourly fee that covers the cost of complete insurance,'' Vice Governor Jamleran said.
''Problems have continued to occur because sometimes, the cost of repairs exceeds the amount covered by insurance.''
One recurring issue has been the 16,000 baht that the jet-ski operators insist on being paid for the time the jet-ski could be out of the water, being repaired.
Time out of the water is not at present covered by insurance. Sometimes, after the rider has been forced to pay the 16,000 baht, the damaged jet-ski is back in the water the following day.
Operators at Patong beach often demand excessive amounts for repairs, sometime two or three times the actual cost.
The demand usually has to be negotiated down. It's quite common for a group of jet-ski operators to surround and intimidate a rider who has the misfortune to damage a jet-ski.
Anyone caught in that situation is advised to tell the jet-ski operators to go with them to the local police station. It may also help to call your local honorary consul.
The jet-ski scams were raised over and over again by Phuket's honorary consuls before Governor Maitree Intrusud postponed their regular three-monthly forums indefinitely in November.
Money from tourism sustains Phuket and contributes large amounts of revenue to Bangkok.
However, Phuket authorities now seem more reluctant than ever to listen to complaints, or to reveal unseen dangers by providing accurate death tolls on Phuket's roads and from drownings at beaches and day-trip snorkelling spots.
real double standards here - why arn't these guys been kicked of the beach? Using public land for private enterprise.
Posted by Ciaran on June 27, 2014 10:06