Pestering of beach tourists banned by local mayor: But will other beaches in Thailand follow suit?

[webfact]

Pestering of beach tourists banned by local mayor: But will other beaches in Thailand follow suit?

 

 

It is a common problem on beaches not just in Thailand but around the world. You have just settled down on your beach towel, put your sunglasses on and prepared your favorite book for a relaxing day soaking up the sun. There is not a care in the world in your bit of paradise.

 

Then they come.

 

"You want food?  You want to buy my watch? You want ice-cream? You want a massage? etc etc

 

The constant saying "no" even if there is occasionally something you want can ruin peoples' day, create arguments and turn a pleasant day on the sands into a chore.

 

Now the high profile mayor of one of Thailand's leading resorts that caters to a mostly domestic market has outlawed the practice. 

 

Saensuk mayor Narongchai Kunpluem - the high profile strongarm chief responsible for Bang Saen beach - went on his personal Facebook page to announce an end to pestering of tourists whether the vendors are legal or not. 

 

The new rules in a story by 77kaoded also addressed overcharging by vendors and laid out strict times when they could operate. 

 

Picture: 77kaoded

 

Deckchair vendors would be allowed to charge 30, 40 or 50 baht a person but 50 was the maximum. 

 

They were limited to 6am to 6pm Tuesday to Thursday and up to 8pm on other days. Monday they would have to close unless that was a public holiday. In this case  the next day they would have to shut instead. 

 

People are allowed to bring their own food and drink except alcohol. 

 

No cooking is allowed and no smoking except in designated areas determined by the local authority. 

 

Vendors are limited to certain areas and there will be none of that beach pestering that is so annoying to many visitors, said the man known as "Mayor Tui".

 

Tui has been quoted many times in recent stories complaining about his compatriots messing up the beach. Elsewhere on Thaivisa today a vendor suggested that businesses and Thai tourists were finally getting the cleanliness message. 

 

The mayor also said on Facebook that food prices are set by the local authority though there is leeway in the price of seafood according to market forces. 

 

Picture: 77kaoded

 

He urged conversations between the vendors and the public so that people were absolutely sure what they would be charged before the bill came so as to avoid arguments later.

 

The Saensuk mayor is part of the Khunpleum family related to infamous Kamnan Poh who was convicted of murder. A sibling of Tui is Sontaya Khunpluem the mayor of Pattaya.

 

Many people especially tourists have complained about being pestered on the beaches of Pattaya but it remains to be seen if there is the will to bring in new regulations there or elsewhere in Thailand, notes Thaivisa. 

 

Source: 77kaoded

 

-- © Copyright Thai Visa News 2020-06-15

 

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[darksidedog]

Wonderful idea. Good luck in implementing it. Thousands of vendors who depend on the tourists on the beach for a living will not play ball.

[Andrew23]

This would be very nice. 

[ThaidDown]

Quote

Pestering of beach tourists banned by local mayor:

Initially thought it referred to banning police and tessakit from harassing,  tourists sitting near the beach sipping a beer, wishful thinking.

 

[sungod]

+1

[RichardColeman]

48 minutes ago, webfact said:

He urged conversations between the vendors and the public so that people were absolutely sure what they would be charged before the bill came so as to avoid arguments later.

he think the police would take farang side in that argument ? 

[jacko45k]

Wonder if it can be expanded to beer bars? I find it particularly disturbing when they come back and hit me round the head with a 4x2.

[anterian]

I have a standard policy that even if I want something I will reject it if pestered by the seller. 

[Deli]

Quite a career in this politically enganged family. Don Vito & Co. Ltd.

[natway09]

It is after dark that the real pestering starts 

[sanuk711]

You want food?  You want to buy my watch? You want ice-cream? you want Boom Boom?  You want a massage?

 

Come on this is part of the Asia experience, if it really upsets you, book you next holiday in Bognor Regies..............

[DPKANKAN]

19 minutes ago, sanuk711 said:

You want food?  You want to buy my watch? You want ice-cream? you want Boom Boom?  You want a massage?

 

Come on this is part of the Asia experience, if it really upsets you, book you next holiday in Bognor Regies..............

Yes but it is to excess !! Last time at one of our rare trips to Pattaya. Restaurant 2nd road. Eating breakfast with the missus away from the road, approached 22 times to buy something!????????????????????????????????

[sanuk711]

1 minute ago, DPKANKAN said:

Yes but it is to excess !! Last time at one of our rare trips to Pattaya. Restaurant 2nd road. Eating breakfast with the missus away from the road, approached 22 times to buy something!????????????????????????????

22 Times...you must look like a rich Farang DPKANKAN..........I guess its a choice of having the Hassles of Asia, against having to view the Beauty of the girls in Britain...... 

 

[kidneyw]

5 hours ago, webfact said:

The Saensuk mayor is part of the Khunpleum family related to infamous Kamnan Poh who was convicted of murder. A sibling of Tui is Sontaya Khunpluem the mayor of Pattaya

Better do what he says then.

[Mavideol]

I use to have a card board written in 4 languages (English, Burmese, Indian and Thai) on a stick next to me, it said (politely) Do Not Disturb Me, was going to provide a photo of it, GF throw it away 3-4 months ago

[balo]

Just ignore them, that's what I do, except for that crazy watch seller. The one who attacks people. 

[Oldie]

52 minutes ago, natway09 said:

It is after dark that the real pestering starts 

This is correct. Here in Pattaya for instance you can't walk on the Beach Road and in Soi Buakhao anymore. It is an open air brothel where "entertainers" try to convince you that you do business with them or sometimes simply try to steal your belongings. Hasn't been any change for very many years. 

[GreasyFingers]

As I used to spend most of the time on the beach in Samui the best Thai words I learnt were "mai au khrab".

Similar to living in Darwin when an aboriginal asked where you were from. The reply was Darwin and they immediately left to pester someone else.

[jaiyen]

Now let the Thais suffer the harassment that tourists get on the beach and in restaurants ! They won't like it one bit, could lead to a few shootings.

[Gillyflower]

You've forgotten feeding the elephants. That's about 20 times a day.

[Pilotman]

4 hours ago, natway09 said:

It is after dark that the real pestering starts 

yes but that's the good kind isn't it?  I wouldn't know of course . 

[Guderian]

How about a law stopping the pack of Khunpluem mayors in Chonburi bothering both tourists and vendors, lol? 

[jacko45k]

13 hours ago, DPKANKAN said:

Yes but it is to excess !! Last time at one of our rare trips to Pattaya. Restaurant 2nd road. Eating breakfast with the missus away from the road, approached 22 times to buy something!????????????????????????????????

The irritation is they are allowed into the restaurant area even. Personally I do not like to be disturbed when eating like this, here it seems to be part of the dining out experience. You are sitting there with enough money to dine out and must hence have it burning a hole in your pocket. Along with avoiding smokers it drives me indoors to eat.

[hotchilli]

18 hours ago, webfact said:

You have just settled down on your beach towel, put your sunglasses on and prepared your favorite book for a relaxing day soaking up the sun. There is not a care in the world in your bit of paradise.

Unfortunately the reality of paradise which is seen from the inside of my eyelids when I'm at the beach is shattered when I open them and see an alternate world!!!

I'm sure high end tourists will be flocking here in droves to sample the local delicacies along the beach boulevard, stopping their Ferraris and powering down the window to buy some take-away !!!!

[mikebell]

Pie-in-the-skyland.