Phuket fines 23 jet ski operators in safety crackdown

Phuket marine authorities have started a crackdown on illegal jet ski operations, fining 23 operators on its first day as part of a drive to improve tourist safety and confidence.

The July 15 operation followed complaints about jet ski services and enforcement at tourist sites received by Deputy Transport Minister Sanphet Bunyamanee during an inspection visit to Phuket.

Sanphet instructed the Phuket Regional Marine Office to urgently bring operators under control, increase inspections and enforce the law more strictly. He said the aim was to raise safety standards and improve tourists' confidence in marine services.

Maximum fines for unlicensed vessels

Officers from the Phuket Regional Marine Office and Marine Police carried out inspections both ashore and at sea on July 15, 2026.

They found 23 offenders operating vessels without the required boat-use licences, which is an offence under Section 9 of the Navigation in Thai Waters Act.

Each offender received the maximum administrative fine of 10,000 baht.

The authorities have described the action as the start of a wider effort to organise and regulate Phuket's jet ski sector. Inspections will continue and are due to be extended to other major tourism areas, according to Sanphet.

What it means for visitors and residents

Jet skis remain a common sight at Phuket beaches, particularly in busy tourist zones. For foreign visitors and expats using rental services, the campaign is intended to target operators rather than customers, but it should place greater emphasis on properly licensed vessels and compliance with marine rules.

The government says the wider campaign is designed to improve safety, reduce the exploitation of tourists and reinforce Thailand's international reputation for marine tourism.

Sanphet said regulation of jet ski services would combine higher service standards with firm law enforcement. The Phuket operation, he added, was only the beginning.

Pictures courtesy of The Nation

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17 July 2026