Click a thumbnail to view more photographs
Zones Will Confine Phuket BYO Umbrellas
By Chutima Sidasathian Wednesday, January 7, 2015
PHUKET: Tourists who bring their own personal umbrellas to Phuket beaches will soon be confined to official zones in specific areas rather than allowed to sit wherever they choose.
The concept of reserving just 10 percent of each of Phuket's popular beaches for the use of umbrellas and hired mats is to be tested at Kata beach first then the model will be imposed at other beaches, a working party was told today.
With bemused tourists on towels suddenly surrounded by officials, Phuket Vice Governor Somkiet Sangkaosutthirak looked on as officials staked out an area that measured 10 metres by 25 metres.
Seven of these areas are to be designated along Kata beach, and each will also have a small kiosk erected where visitors will be able to hire umbrellas and mats, but not sunbeds.
Massage vendors will also have to operate within the zones. All tourists who bring personal umbrellas will also be confined to the zones.
The seven kiosks will be spread along the 1374 metres of Kata's shorefront.
The Kata-Karon mayor, the district chief, leaders of the community and vendors accompanied the vice governor today.
In a candid moment, Vice Governor Somkiet admitted that he remained sceptical about whether the concept would work.
Governor Nisit Jansomwong has suggested trialling the idea for three months, then adapting it if required. By that time, the high season will be coming to a close and fewer people will be using the beaches.
It is believed the governor has obtained the national government's permission to test the 10 percent plan.
Phuketwan expects that swimmers who bring their own umbrellas prefer to be able to choose their own spots on the beach and will share with vendors and masseuses at close quarters only with great reluctance.
Most are likely to seek beaches where they are free to bring their umbrellas and sit where they choose. But the authorities aim to make all the west coast beaches conform to the plan, even though it's a compromise that appears to make nobody happy.
The group will convene again in seven days to confirm the plan.
All beaches in the Phuket City District will have the 10 percent rule applied. This includes the Relax Bay beach, backed by Le Meridien Phuket Beach Resort, and Kata Noi, backed by the KataThani Phuket Beach Resort.
The length of the beaches were given today as Kata Noi 800m, Freedom beach 324m, Le Meridien 354m, Kata 1374m and Karon 3630m.
The timetable for Patong, Kamala, Surin and Bang Tao to adopt the scheme have yet to be revealed.
|
Comments
Comments have been disabled for this article.
What is it about Government officialdom that creates this form of madness? As quickly as they cleared the beaches they are cluttering them up again.
How long before things will regress back to where they were before the army cleared them off? I'll give it until next high season.
Just how long do they think this 10% rule will last?
Posted by
Arun Muruga
on
January 7, 2015 12:54
Hope that the officials took the opportunity to ask some of the guests on the beach what they want. That might be easiest solution.wm
Posted by
wm
on
January 7, 2015 12:59
No sure if i should laugh or cry....
Its embarrassing.
Our decline in tourism will continue I feel....
Posted by
Mr. K
on
January 7, 2015 13:03
Thailand, land of Freedom. Well, not for the much money spending tourists coming from far. Gone beach freedom for tourists. Another negative blow. Sitting on the Phuket beaches becomes like sitting in a cinema. ( Just here only).Conclusion is that the thai people on Phuket not want to see tourists anymore.
By the way, when daily west coast beach cleaning starts? When, on a row, at beaches every 50 meters a rubbish bin where beach visitors can drop their rubbish? Must be emptied daily of cause, not once a week. Would they understand that? Why thai authorities not care beach environment much more?
Posted by
Kurt
on
January 7, 2015 13:18
This is just ridiculous stuff - bring your own umbrella - you can only sit here.
I think if they are trying to destroy tourism they are heading in the right direction.
Posted by
Ciaran
on
January 7, 2015 13:20
I hate to state the obvious, but this plan is doomed. The beaches are public. Why is the government staking out territory for vendors, jet skis and other illegal activities? And who is going to enforce these onerous rules? They are going to go up and down the beach and force people to move into zones? Tourists are going to love this idea!!!
Posted by
Scudman
on
January 7, 2015 13:23
Do the thai really not understand that their tape measuring on Phuket beaches make them to be laughed at all over the world. How funny can you be. Is there more to come?
Posted by
Kurt
on
January 7, 2015 13:24
Another blow (down) for phuket tourist industry. Next year 2016 no "high season" at all. Where are their brains, just in pockets only?
Posted by
Kurt
on
January 7, 2015 13:33
and the jet ski's and parasailers continue to make many tourists life a misery
Posted by
Paul
on
January 7, 2015 13:42
So....people who bring their own umbrellas and mats will be competing for the same place as vendors.
That ain't going to turn out well......
Posted by
Sir Burr
on
January 7, 2015 14:03
glad iam going home soon, police to have officers to enforce the curfew on patong hill, the jet skies can continue running a buisness on the beach aka public land now turists will be limited to use 10% of the beach if i hadnt been here for a while i would think it was 1st april alrdy what officers will enforce this ? not to speak of all the annoying vendors still on the beach and how many will die on patong hill as a result of this major fail of thought
Posted by
g2x3k
on
January 7, 2015 14:21
Why insted of watching what happenes on the beaches do not bother to stop the overbuilding???
Confine tourists in a few square meters it is absolutely unimaginable and completely crazy!
I can't belive that they compromise our holidays and i hope that people who love Phuket goes against an unjust rule !!!
Donatella
Posted by
Anonymous
on
January 7, 2015 14:22
I agree with vice governor somkiet.it's not going to work.absurd to consider it.
Posted by
Anonymous
on
January 7, 2015 14:36
Phuket seems it does not want tourists or resident foreigners, a new rule introduced for a one year visa means that the house owner has to register with immigration,not that this is published anywhere and seems it is just a Phuket rule, more paper work more hours waiting around in immigration. I am looking very seriously at moving o Vietnam, when there are no tourists and resident expats to fund the life style Thais on Phuket have become accustomed to maybe some common sense will prevail, but I doubt it, that commodity is as rare as rocking horse dung on this island
Posted by
Shwe
on
January 7, 2015 14:55
@Sue: They can be small, medium, or fully erect - it's really up to you!
Posted by
Pete
on
January 7, 2015 15:00
well, yes. Put them all in a few square meter. Makes it easier to borrow some sun lotion from the neighbor.Make a new friend... This is ridiculous.
Posted by
Carl
on
January 7, 2015 15:22
May be it is better to cages there, as I am sure tourusts will love it - so distinct attraction - as cage will provide against intruders and will keep stuff safe when out of cage for WCing of swimming!
Also, if will easier to manage a space when everyone is allocated to the particular cage, identified by its number.
Posted by
Sue
on
January 7, 2015 15:40
So what is the other 90% of the beach to be used for? Jet skis and parasailers?
Just when you think it can't get any weirder......
Posted by
thalangmark
on
January 7, 2015 16:32
I've been to a picnic, a rodeo and one Worlds Fair and that has to be the stupidest (by far) thing I have ever seen. Farcical..ludicrous..absurd..inane......etc.
Posted by
Day
on
January 7, 2015 16:36
It's not April 1st so it's official the lunatics have definitely taken over the asylum (Phuket). Personally I am delighted,the more idiotic treatment inflicted on visitors the less likely they are to return. Having spoken today to tuk tuk drivers both in Kata and Patong I can confirm each "gang" told me they could not pick up a fare for a return journey outside their "territory". So nothing has changed, their rip off prices continue. Yesterday I went to the Metropole Hotel to hear about the planned Light Railway - 23 Billion Baht, I'll bet it's nearer 30 Billion on completion - WHAT ABOUT A PROPER PUBLIC BUS SERVICE FIRST. Meanwhile the jet ski cowboys keep coining it in, no doubt all of Marine 5 personnel get their cut. Patong beach road jammed solid with tuk tuks, what happened to the new Mayor's promises ? Best not to have a brain if you want to live here happily.
Posted by
Honesto
on
January 7, 2015 16:38
@Sue: It just gets worse. Your last long diatribe about suites got me baffled. Was it hotel suites, software suites, three piece suites or a musical suite you were on about? And now cages for tourusts (sic) ??? remember you can get rid of the 'rusts' with olive oil, the same oil you can use on your imaginary erections!
Posted by
Pete
on
January 7, 2015 17:03
it's this kind of thing that makes me want to use swear words as adjectives.. let's just say it's a ludicrous idea and leave it at that..
Posted by
another steve
on
January 7, 2015 17:17
Pete, take it easy on Sue as she is still recovering from being injected with a hallucination drug by a KGB drone disguised as a wasp.
Posted by
Manowar
on
January 7, 2015 17:32
small kiosks on the beach to sell for commercial enterprise but a life saving club rooms is out of the question go figure.
Posted by
slickmelb
on
January 7, 2015 17:59
@Pete
Erections, as reported above, are not imaginary, they will soon materialize in the beach, the only question is whether they will be temporary or permanent ones.
In regard of suit(e)s, it is your own free will chose between a suit in the court or in the another suite in St.Regis.
However I personally prefer made-to-measure Zegna suites, made from a choice of fabrics of a catalog of a season. Actually, I give preference to just jackets, as they have so many fancy fabrics every quarter, same applicable to ties and shirts.
As olive oil is so cheap, I can only recommend you to increase consumption of it, as it is so beneficial for cardiovascular health, hence also beneficial for erections of you and/or your partner too.
I wonder, whether you have ever successfully resolved a puzzle? Here you get them for free, but BTW The Guardian charges for them.
Posted by
Sue
on
January 7, 2015 18:02
Brilliant. Officialdom at work. There's plenty left to run on this story...
Posted by
Duncan
on
January 7, 2015 18:15
@Pete
Zegna's made-to-measure suites, as known, are sold under Su(e) Misura name ;)
Posted by
Sue
on
January 7, 2015 18:20
I agree Sue, it's always best to wear a suit in court rather than a thong... Although wearing either, you may still be considered as a solicitor. However one may allow election to the bar and the other cause erections of the bar.
Posted by
Manowar
on
January 7, 2015 18:34
@Sue: Erections, as reported above, are not imaginary, they will soon materialize in the beach, the only question is whether they will be temporary or permanent ones.
Oh my gosh, I hope they wear longish swimming trunks and go easy on the Viagra. Permanent ones would be so embarrassing!
Perhaps you could buy a Zegna's made-to-measure suite for the editor to wear for his forthcoming travels, just a small contribution as penance for the mostly off-topic trash that you write.
Posted by
Pete
on
January 7, 2015 18:55
@Pete
So far the champion on off-the topic posts by its share of total posts by a person is You; I will collect some comparative statistics on that and will put it into spreadsheet ;)
Posted by
Sue
on
January 7, 2015 19:30
So this is where we are at.
The beeches are to be cleared of businesses (except jet skis of course)and returned to the public because it is public land. However, if a member of the public turns up with an umbrella he is not allowed access to 90% of the public area but a designated pen which he must share with other umbrella users and vendors.
Question. When is a public space not a public space.
Answer. When it has an umbrella on it.
When the travel writers pick up on this one it will be another nail in the coffin of Phuket tourism.
Posted by
Richard
on
January 7, 2015 22:59
Editor Comment:
Let's hope the administration sees the light and talks to some honorary consuls before then.
will the local beach thugs be enforcing the rule to protect their businesses ?
Posted by
mike
on
January 7, 2015 23:21
Editor should be happy now , the beaches will be in a natural state, without the tourists. But instead there will be some moneyless backpackers. And jetskis. Editor really knows what tourists need, not what they want. Yes, thank you, now we know what we need, the other resort which is not in phuket....
Posted by
Jyrki
on
January 8, 2015 03:07
I believed that Nazism was over. But no! In Phuket there are concentration camps for tourists.
Posted by
augusto
on
January 8, 2015 08:17
Editor Comment:
That's a bit harsh, augusto. No need for exaggerations. Maintain touch with reality, please.
Amazing Thailand! This is just ridiculous. Please let it rain brain. We'll come back in a few years, when there is a new government and the sunbeds are back.
Posted by
Mathilda
on
January 8, 2015 08:32
I can't wait to see what happens if I sit under my own umbrella outside of one of these areas
Will I be arrested ? Thrown in jail ?
Same as everyone else's comments - utter nonsense ! phuket - the hub of stupidity !
Posted by
Amazing Thailand
on
January 8, 2015 09:03
if Thailand does not want more tourists bathing but only for sex tourists just say so and we go on.
Posted by
augusto
on
January 8, 2015 09:30
To add to Nobamas comment i.e. "are they just trying to run of the tourists?? " - no - they are not only TRYING to run the tourists off - they are already succeeding to quite some extent.
And - with the continuous new and increasingly ridiculous ideas these incompetent councils and governors come up with - more and more tourists will choose other destination where common sense prevails - as opposed to what is the case with most of the Phuket officials that are dealing with these matters.
Posted by
Ornie
on
January 8, 2015 11:25
Now it could be the time to find out what schools these who in charge for this went to. close them down immediately and start all over again... but yes... its 1 thing make u chose Phuket before Pattaya, the beaches... now there are not much left of them so lets Party....
Posted by
frog
on
January 8, 2015 13:06
Right now...right now, 1400hrs, they are putting back the massage tables at Nai Harn Beach, so all this talk about public land is a joke
Posted by
bodysurfNaiHarn
on
January 8, 2015 14:09
When the ARMY coming back to Phuket and stay fore at list 2 year and cleaning up every thing this thane about 2 Year +.
Posted by
Bjorn Ronningen
on
January 8, 2015 15:38
You can get a massage on the beach.
You can buy drinks on the beach.
You can rent umbrellas on the beach.
You can rent sunbeds (folding chairs) on the beach.
In the past Scrooge c.s. already didn't buy/rent on the beach.
Posted by
Philippe
on
January 8, 2015 18:56
@Pete
Erections, as reported above, are not imaginary, they will soon materialize in the beach, the only question is whether they will be temporary or permanent ones.
Oh my gosh, I hope they wear longish swimming trunks and go easy on the Viagra. Permanent ones would be so embarrassing!
===
If you were talking about erection of penises, then an arrogance of Europeans is simply incomprehensible!
Because Bushmen have all time semi-erect penises. Same as some tribes in PNG.
Such an epic ignorance! And the same is the level of persistence on not true facts!
Posted by
Sue
on
January 8, 2015 21:19
I hope sanity prevails soon. I am back in a couple of months with grandchildren. We will bring an umbrella but I am not sure being crammed in to a small area with little children will make others happy. It just seems to go from bad to worse. Someone needs to stand up and make a decision. Most people understand why they made the changes but there is not a beach anywhere that you can not drop your towel and put up an umbrella on any spare sand. The uncertainty and the toing and froing is hurting more than the removal of vendors and beds. Make a decision and stick to it, how hard can it be! To say that personal umbrellas are an eyesore is just ridiculous. All of this to cater for the two things universally everyone agrees should go, Jet skis and parasails. (except maybe the operators)
Posted by
DaveMc60
on
January 9, 2015 07:14
Editor Comment:
As you say ''there is not a beach anywhere that you can not drop your towel and put up an umbrella on any spare sand.'' It would be a shame if the governor listens to the babble of commerce and private profit.
It just gets stupider by the week. Utterly baffling. The government/police continually fail to control and regulate anything. All that is really needed is enforcement of what is NOT allowed... not the regulation of what is.
Posted by
Ed Sanders
on
January 9, 2015 11:23
"Governor Nisit Jansomwong has suggested trialling the idea for three months, then "ADAPTING?" it if required."I reckon this will mean that after 3 months they will go...F222 it...This isn't working.better we go back to the original system............YIIIIOOOOOEEEEWWWW
this means everything will be back to normal....and hopefully surfboards will be back for the low season.,.,...... Bring It ON .....The Power of the Kata Karon group is great.....
Posted by
surf starved katoey
on
January 9, 2015 15:03
@ SSKatoey - come on, you know its all about the money! Others - please stop encouraging Sue, she will be running low on Meds soon.
Posted by
Mister Ree
on
January 9, 2015 16:56
@MisterRee
These days the highest risk on the island is to run out of real lobsters (Homarus americanus):
as with lower demand, they start to order in much smaller quantities, and you're risking simply to manage to grab your unit of H.Americanus ,and instead be left with a painted shellfish , Panulirus ornatus, that is sold under the name "Phuket lobster".
Or even worse, giving that lobsters are supplied to the island twice a week, they even try to feed you on Su. not those that has been supposedly delivered on Fr., but earlier!
Probably you and your husband know this, when you go out with kids.
Posted by
Sue
on
January 9, 2015 18:12
Sue, you should ask Alan to bring you an application form for the annual Frankston to Burnie fun run. During the event it's a seafood free for all and just by finishing you get all the crabs and lobsters you can eat for a year.
I'm yet to hear anybody who did not enjoy it.
You could even do a review on your experience.
Posted by
Manowar
on
January 9, 2015 19:10
With all these different 'trials' at different beaches, surely a simple sensible approach is all that is needed.
In many beaches around the world a zoning structure, if operated correctly works.
Let's use Surin as an example. The beach needs to be split into 15 equal size blocks with pathways in-between. each block is to be given its own different colour (and number to aid the colour blind tourist). On arriving at the beach, the visitor first reports to the Beach Zone Colour Co-ordinator (BZCC) and is allocated a random colour (with courtesy wristband of same colour) where they then sit - with or without their own umbrella. Each coloured zone has beach vendors allocated to it, and they wear matching coloured shirts and hats to avoid unfair competition. Once in the zone the beach goer can only get service from the correct coloured attendant. Then, to avoid one colour 'monopolising' the beach, every 30 minutes an air raid siren blares out, and a tannoy voice message, in multiple language format, announces that each zone must be vacated. The beach goer then returns to the BZCC centre and shows the colour they have just had, and is then allocated a different colour - thus providing the beach vendors an equal share of the spoils. This continues throughout the day until 4.30pm when the BZCC staff go home. Another office, called the Beach Zone Colour Co-Ordination Redemption Centre then (BZCCRC) opens. The beach goer can hand in their wristbands and receive a free ice-cream.
Simple yet effective.
Posted by
FrankieV
on
January 10, 2015 10:06
@FrankieV
What a simple, yet effective way to solve the problem. It would help if no 2 matching colour bands were given to any family/group members, this would ensure people didn't stay too long in their designated zone.
I'm sure the authorities will take up this suggestion with enthusiasm!
Posted by
farang tourist
on
January 11, 2015 10:37
FrankyV,
Are you serious? Or is this a joke? Or are you just crazy?
You seem to forget that we are talking about public beaches not about camps as there were in the last century.
Posted by
Norbert
on
January 11, 2015 23:17
Yes Norbert, FrankyV was joking but his efforts were wasted.....on some... and enjoyed by others
Posted by
Manowar
on
January 12, 2015 04:49
Is it so now ? you not allowed to bring your own unbrealla to the beach anymore ?
I am going to Phuket this week , and for the first time i am not happy about going to my holliday . i read you can grt a ticket from the police if you bring your own unbrella to the beach . Have the thaipeople ever heard of the word canser , if you lie direct in the sun ? Or dosent the goverment want any people on the beach anymore ? Whats going on ? " monts ago i was told you could bring your own unbrealla and chair , but now its forbidden . I beem in Thailand on holliday every year since 1999 , but i am afraid this is my last holliday to Thailand . Its time to look for other more tourist friendly places .
Posted by
Liz
on
January 13, 2015 17:59
Many of my Swedish friends will never come back which is worrrying. Tourism is down (unsurprinsigly). Keep on biting the hand that feeds you, will come at a heafty price.
Posted by
reader
on
January 15, 2015 04:38
You are busy killing tourism in Thailand.
It is incomprehensible that nearly 50% in Patong Beach is occupied by jetski. Is this more important than well receive the tourists who spend their money here? This is not to understand your reasoning!
Posted by
Manu
on
January 17, 2015 22:55
What another brainless idea!! Can't the government see that tourism is already down?? Next high season will be a lot lower than this one as a lot of people had already pre-booked before all this madness. The umbrella issue is so stupid and because of it so many people will never be coming back to Thailand. It will take Thailand years to recover the amount of lost tourism
Posted by
Mr Wolf
on
January 20, 2015 15:03
|
What is it about Government officialdom that creates this form of madness? As quickly as they cleared the beaches they are cluttering them up again.
How long before things will regress back to where they were before the army cleared them off? I'll give it until next high season.
Just how long do they think this 10% rule will last?
Posted by Arun Muruga on January 7, 2015 12:54