Phuket or Phujet? Machines and Swimmers Compete for Space, and Swimmers Lose Out
Sunday, November 2, 2014
PHUKET: Tourists who come to Phuket this high season will find sunbeds gone but jet-skis taking control on the island's key swimming beach.
Some are likely to react by abandoning the island for destinations where they can enjoy the sea in peace.
Patong still has one last chance to reverse a controversial plan that places jet-ski pods in 16 prominent positions along the shoreline at the popular beach where swimmers would normally be in the water.
The jet-ski pods plan emerged at a meeting at Patong Municipal Offices that was dominated by jet-ski operators, without swimmers or tourists being represented.
The clearance of sunbeds and umbrellas under the orders of the National Council for Peace and Order means tourists this high season will not be pestered on Patong beach - but their safety in the water is less certain because of the priority being given to jet-skis.
Even on beaches where jet-skis are not supposed to be operating, Phuket has a problem.
At Surin, a no-jet-ski beach, two jet-skis were in the water today and locals produced a photograph that highlighted the danger when jet-skis operate close to swimmers and surfboards.
The hiring of surfboards, along with holding weddings, has been banned from the sands at Phuket beaches. Yet in the water, jet-skis still operate.
At Patong, 170 of them are registered. The total around Phuket is 286. This compares to Krabi, 0 and Phang Nga 0.
The logic of having jet-skis in an area renowned for its natural beauty escapes everyone except the jet-ski operators and the officials who support them.
Phuket, so senior officials in the government have told Phuketwan, has a future as an environmentally friendly destination, achieving a balance with nature.
But environmentally friendly destinations do not tolerate jet-skis or parasailer speedboats.
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Comments
Comments have been disabled for this article.
Who was ever "pestered" by sunbeds & umbrella operators in the past? I hope you were trying to be sarcastic....
Posted by
Tom
on
November 2, 2014 19:27
Editor Comment:
The article does not say tourists were pestered by sunbed operators.
What a postcard picture it is now. A line of jet skis all along the beach with touts walking around like they own the beach. The spots under the trees are for trailer parking now too. A row of tuk tuks take up the entire right lane. The more things change the more they stay the same.
Posted by
Jon
on
November 2, 2014 19:30
Swimming at Suring beach is not really pleasure, since I have to constantly look around when I heard Jet ski noise. Many tourists are really retarded to understand instructions to ride far from the beach. I tried to avoid Patong area as much as I can, but one day I was walking on the beach and it was very annoying how many people try to sell Jet Ski to me. Get rid of swimmers and surfers and put more jet ski on the beach and more speedboats to the water.
Posted by
hamistagan
on
November 2, 2014 19:30
I could not agree more - it's an absolute disgrace what is happening with the jet skis
The poor lady being run over this week by a truck on the beach towing a jet ski trailer just shows how dangerous these things are - in and out of the water.
Disgraceful Thailand.
Posted by
Amazing Thailand
on
November 2, 2014 19:40
"Tourists who come to Phuket this high season will find sunbeds gone but jet-skis taking control on the island's key swimming beach.
Some are likely to react by abandoning the island for destinations where they can enjoy the sea in peace."
Not jetskis are the problem but the removal of the sunbeds. A lot of people want to enjoy the beach on a sunbed under an umbrella. Between those people is already a lot of discussion which country they will go next year.
Posted by
Kas
on
November 2, 2014 19:44
Editor Comment:
We've yet to hear of a tourist being seriously scammed by a sunbed operator or being killed by an umbrella. Your idea of a ''problem'' must be different to ours.
I think the question must be why are they being allowed to continue to operate? Why does Marine 5 continue to support this industry knowing its an illegal business? When these questions are answered we will know the answer - Phuket or Phujet
Posted by
phuketsaviour
on
November 2, 2014 19:56
Tuk tuk still park everywhere locking the traffic. Taxi meteres have increased the fare. Jetski allowed to operate.
Isn't this the power of mafia??
Poor and weak people lost work, umbrella and chairs. Small restaurant destroyed, but big hotel encroaching the Phuket park still on place: big mafia (powerful people) won everywhere. Army didn't change anything..
Phuket deserve what has.
Posted by
dave
on
November 2, 2014 21:04
"The clearance of sunbeds and umbrellas under the orders of the National Council for Peace and Order means tourists this high season will not be pestered on Patong beach."
My understanding of English says the article does Editor.
Posted by
SteveJ
on
November 2, 2014 22:35
Editor Comment:
perhaps I should have added two words ''by vendors.''
Me and my girlfriend was almots hit by one of their trucks when trying to have a romantic walk in the sunset at Patong Beach a few weeks ago.
The truck came at high speed heading right towards us.
Although there was a lot of space for him to drive far away from us, he drove just a couple of meters beside us during intense honking.
We felt the message was: "Get out of my way, because all the beach belongs to me and I dont like you to be here."
This gangsters are much more worse than the ping-pong show touts at Bangla. You can not enter the beach without having them after you, trying in an unfriendly way to push you to rent a jetski or parasail.
The things now going on: No sunbeds or umbrellas but a lots of jetskis and speedboats with parachutes will make large masses of tourists chose other destinations if things arent changed quickly before the high season starts.
In some European countries the bigest travel agencies have sent letters to everyone that have booked a holiday ticket to Phuket. The letter tells that no sunbeds or umbrellas is available at Phuket beaches and the ones that want to change destination have the right to do so.
Maybe the letter should also contain a warning about the great number of stinky, noicy and dangerous jetskis and parasail speedboats that are now all over Phuket beaches.
Posted by
PhuketFriendly
on
November 2, 2014 22:40
Let's avoid swimming near Jet-skis as officials may consider banning swimming!
Posted by
Sam
on
November 2, 2014 23:08
One Kamala hotel has posted on FB few days ago:
"dear friends, we have good news!
today was the final meeting with the decisive authorities:
on 12. nov. all legal sunchair renters, food stalls, massage parlors & beach vendors can definitely go back to the beach. ***smile***"
Posted by
Sue
on
November 2, 2014 23:45
Editor Comment:
None of them are legal so . . . I guess the hotel manager has a sense of humor.
Events indicate the person or persons who control the jet ski "business" in Patong hold significant power and are able to dictate what rules and regulations apply. In a society with honest government, transparency and rule of law, these people's names and current positions would be made public. Unfortunately, it seems that intimidation, and corruption still hold sway over Phuket. Until the jet skis are dealt with, all of the promises made by the military junta on fighting corruption and of "cleaning up Thailand" are empty words and effectively lies. NOTHING has really changed on Phuket. The corruption is sill there, stronger and more entrenched than ever before. This year, I will only visit Phuket for 3 days at Christmas. After the visit, it's back on the plane and off to the other side of the country where I don't have to deal with the corruption caused inflated pricing and dishonest attitudes. I feel sorry for all the people who have invested in Phuket and have been mislead. It seems that the hard work and the hopes are wasted.
Posted by
Ryan
on
November 3, 2014 00:15
Editor Comment:
There is no evidence of corruption but there is evidence of a flawed and unfair policy that specifies a return to nature on the sands and a commitment to business in the water.
After 18 years of great holidays staying in phuket for 6 weeks each time I regreat jan / feb 2014 was the last trip for myself and family and friends its a great shame the jet skis and tuk tuks have ruined paradise for everybody.
Posted by
Silvo
on
November 3, 2014 00:36
It's quite obvious not one of these officials ever spends a day at the beach... enough said!
Posted by
DG
on
November 3, 2014 04:58
Watching an episode of Embassy, a reality TV show airing in Australia based on the Bangkok Australian Embassy last night. All the shots of Phuket were aerial shots of the beaches with rows of beds and umbrellas. And the feature story was a tourist being scammed for 70k THB for "damage" to a ski. He escaped paying $17k but only after much to and from at the police station. Obvious scam, but tis continues unabated. And as they survived the "clean up" they will become bolder and stronger. Something really is mixed up here. Beautiful pictures of beaches overshadowed in prime time nationally by a major story of a rip off.
Posted by
Davemc60
on
November 3, 2014 05:11
Editor Comment:
Delighted to hear that the jet-ski ripoffs have made prime time Australian television. More international news crews should chase this story, especially as there will be many on Phuket covering the 10th anniversary of the tsunami. The jet-ski operators are not all dishonest but their commitment to making the tourist pay for everything is obvious.
Its great isn't it, jet-skis dominate the beaches yet up at Nai Yang all the kite boarding schools have been shut down, tourist's would book accommodation and lessons, there Phuket holiday based on full on kite sailing, other tourists would watch and enjoy the colourful spectacle, it now seems their is nobody at the helm of change in Phuket, it is becoming a joke.
Posted by
coxo
on
November 3, 2014 07:23
as ive posted before the corrupt men at the top run the show sweet f/all will happen
chairs and umbrellas food places are easy targets ping pong shows the tuk tuks ect its a joke
even the army can do nothing about jet skis -- money money money
Posted by
ayjay
on
November 3, 2014 07:30
Ok, Krabi is not pestered by jet-skis, but Ao Nang and the islands and beaches around Ao Nang are pestered by longtail boats and its enormous noise.
Posted by
Werni
on
November 3, 2014 07:32
Jet Ski mafia riping off tourists is a big problem they have corrupt people helping them as is obvious to anyone with half a brain, now they have been given parts of the beach which everyone was told is illegal to do! Thailand is corrupt it always will be, it hides the truth to try and save face but just looks like a child protesting its innocence when caught with its hand in the cookie jar in the eyes of a more civilised world! Then you are threatened if you protest or have an opinion different than the government! when will Thailand ever move grow up from childhood??
Posted by
Mr Wolf
on
November 3, 2014 10:13
I just went for a surf at north Patong with a friend and we were constantly buzzed by idiots on jet skis with no idea of keeping distance from swimmers and surfers. Its such an intrusion on an otherwise peaceful day at the beach to have these things flying around everywhere spewing fumes and endangering swimmers.
Posted by
carvets
on
November 3, 2014 14:34
The Jetski-Problem in Phuket is just ridiculous. It shows that the fight against corruption is a joke. Nothing has changed for the better after the coup. Insecurity has just grown.
Posted by
Dominik K.
on
November 3, 2014 16:52
Since years I spent 3 month during winther in Patong. Due to the development there, next year I travel to Kapverde. Phuket is gone from my map.
Posted by
Anonymous
on
November 3, 2014 16:52
Today carvets? Weather warnings and heavy rain. With this kind of weather there are only few people on the beach and very few jetskis.
Posted by
Kas
on
November 3, 2014 16:57
This article has said what everyone else thinks but can't fathom out why jet-skis are still here?
I gather from another news source today a Russian died from riding a jet-ski today at Patong beach. RIP
Posted by
Syd
on
November 3, 2014 18:09
Editor Comment:
I don't think anyone dies from riding a jet-ski. But everyone knows these machines are dangerous on water, the same way motorcycles are on land. They should not be operating on beaches where swimmers - most of them tourists - must be protected in the water.
The precise circumstances of the man's death have yet to be determined. But jet-skis will always pose an unnecessary danger as long as they operate at Phuket's beaches.
And to day A Russian tourist died after he rented jet-ski he was riding in Patong Beach today.
Posted by
Bjorn Ronningen
on
November 3, 2014 18:12
Editor Comment:
Yes, but nobody knows for sure yet what caused his death. We can be fairly certain, though, that it was not ''natural.''
The NCPO ordered beaches cleaned of commercial activity. Fairly easy to achieve to be honest, and it pretty much has. They didn't say "out with jetskis" despite many of us wishing they had said such. Now, the local decisions about the pens in the water and new rules for jetskis are from the Marine Office in Phuket, not the NCPO and are pretty close to not treading on the toes of the NCPO orders. Only when it can be clearly proven over and over that the jetskis are indeed on the beach and commercially so, MAY the NCPO stand up and make the decision many of us want to hear... "out with jetskis". Until then, the Marine Office will continue to support the jetskis and I feel the NCPO will continue to ignore as jetskis never appeared to be on their agenda in the first place.
Posted by
Duncan
on
November 3, 2014 18:24
Pleas don't forget para-sailing guys, this is dangerous in the water and on the land. I was in Kata beach yesterday and their rope nearly caught several people in the water and on the beach - they blow their whistle non-stop to get people clear off for their "business" not a very peaceful and save !!???
Posted by
Still
on
November 3, 2014 18:44
Yes Kas , today. This morning at 10.30 . There was a girl swimming who had to be rescued by the other guy I was surfing with as she was in a rip and there were plenty of people swimming despite the weather ( it wasn't raining then ) . You also have to consider the jet ski hirers who now have to take the skis out to moor them offshore and then bring them back in when someone wants to rent one. These are usually young Thais who can seem to do nothing at a leisurely pace. Everything has to be done at speed showing off their skills like it was competition and everyone on the beach was a judge .
Posted by
carvets
on
November 3, 2014 19:31
Take picture and more video and put on You Tube and Face Book every day on every beach in Phuket about jet-ski and parachute.
Posted by
Bjorn Ronningen
on
November 3, 2014 20:02
Did I read, No evidence of Corruption !!.. so why did Major General Paween Pongsirin become the latest in a string of police officers and administrators whose desire to straighten out Phuket's problems appears to have led to them being prematurely ''promoted'' before being able to complete their tasks. He was just about to start on the jet ski mafia when he was moved. Phuket will take years to recover if it ever does from this years many acts of officialdom stupidity.
Posted by
Craig Gold Coast
on
November 4, 2014 10:40
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Who was ever "pestered" by sunbeds & umbrella operators in the past? I hope you were trying to be sarcastic....
Posted by Tom on November 2, 2014 19:27
Editor Comment:
The article does not say tourists were pestered by sunbed operators.