An accident waiting to happen: reclaim footpath before a "quality tourist" is mown down

 

Pictures: Manager online

 

Calls have been made for the footpaths at the popular resort of Khao Lak in Phangnga to be cleared up after large scale encroachment by vendors.

 

Manager said it is only a matter of time before a "quality tourist" is run down by being forced to walk in the road.

 

 

Manager said that the area has 11,000 rooms and is full of European tourists who spend a lot and deserve better. The government wants them in Thailand so they should ensure that they are safe and looked after.

 

 

Over the last three months shops have extended their awnings into the footpath, put out things for sale and erected signage making a walk there all but impossible without going into the road - roads that are some of the deadliest in the world.

 

 

Tawat Niranatwarodom of the local tourist businesses association said enough is enough - he called on the relevant authorities to take decisive action to reclaim the sidewalks for the tourists.

 

The media printed pictures of vendors selling wares right by official signage in Thai forbidding the use of the footpath for such activity.

 

Source: Manager Online

 

-- © Copyright Thai Visa News 2018-03-27

11 minutes ago, webfact said:

after large scale encroachment by vendors.

always been amazed by thai encroachers;

seems to highlight a complete lack of distinction , in thai minds, of public versus private property

2 hours ago, webfact said:

Manager said it is only a matter of time before a "quality tourist" is run down by being forced to walk in the road.

If in pattaya it would read........Mongers said it is only a matter of time before a 'quality tourist' is run down by being forced to walk on the road....

Tailor touts and taxi ripp offs at any corner are the worst encounters along the road

Sidewalks for walking on, now there is a novel idea......

It ain't going to happen.

5 hours ago, webfact said:

only a matter of time before a "quality tourist" is run down

 

5 hours ago, webfact said:

the area has 11,000 rooms and is full of European tourists who spend a lot and deserve better

Thailand in a nutshell

What next, walkway reserved for Europeans only, everyone else take your chances with the traffic

Manager said it is only a matter of time before a "quality tourist" is run down by being forced to walk in the road.

 

What?  Like in Chiang Mai on Thapae Road when locals park their cars and motorcycles on the sidewalks after 3PM to keep from getting a parking ticket forcing pedestrians onto the already busy street?  lol Like encroaching vendors, the local authorities turn a blind eye to those parking on the sidewalks.  TIT. 

Hua Hin is looking very similar, with condo sales signs and street food vendors completely blocking the street. The street carts start with a small encroachment and within a few weeks they have set up dining areas completely blocking the sidewalks. If that weren’t bad enough, they give you the evil eye for walking through “their” area. The encroachments forcing pedestrians, strollers and wheelchairs out into the traffic lanes are easily cleaned up with the use of a gross encroachment enforcement team. The entire matter should be cleaned up quickly, but the will on the part of the municipality seems sorely lacking. 

"but the will on the part of the municipality seems sorely lacking" and the continuous flow of brown envelopes

What burns my ass also are the shop owners who try to chase you away from parking on a public road in front of their business. They do not own the road and many times there is no where else to park. Many business owners will key your vehicle or flatten a tire. Terrible mindset.  

On 3/27/2018 at 8:34 AM, webfact said:

The media printed pictures of vendors selling wares right by official signage in Thai forbidding the use of the footpath for such activity.

Same with motorcycles on the pavement. They'll park right next to the signs threatening fines of up to B5,000. They thumb their noses at the authorities and the farcical authorities have yet to work out that it's their face(s) that are being lost.

On 3/27/2018 at 2:49 PM, connda said:

the local authorities turn a blind eye

They turn both blind eyes.

On 3/27/2018 at 1:50 PM, grumbleweed said:

 

Thailand in a nutshell

What next, walkway reserved for Europeans only, everyone else take your chances with the traffic

You're obviously missing the point.

On 2018-03-27 at 8:34 AM, webfact said:

only a matter of time before a "quality tourist" is run down

Is it OK if it is not a "quality tourist"  - what if I am a native of Chiang Mai visiting southern Thailand as a tourist?  Is it OK to run me down?