Full Moon Pary/ Haad Rin Entry Fee?

[Birdman]

I wish, they they would take more money,

so nobody will show up anymore.

And then, let them start thinking.

Ups!

If they would charge more, most tourists would pay that too.

If there would be no fullmoon party, they would do other businesses.

If there would be no farangs in Thailand, they would go on with their lives without missing us.

[frankman]

No fullmoon and no tourists?

Fantastic!!!

[thaibeachlovers]

i never went to the full moon party, where is the fee collected, i mean when you go to the full moon, is the boat driing you to a special location or is the fee collected at the regular pier?

The fees are collected at speedboat piers some 300m from where the party is and on the opposite side of Haad Rin penisula. The piers are mostly used for party arrivals from Samui so it's hard to say they are regular. But unless one pays the fees not only the access to the party but to Hadd Rin itslef is impossible.

Thank you for all replies. I'm sorry I missed the previous post about the same issue.

Just as I thought the fee is only for people arriving from Koh Samui. But who says that people coming from Samui don't spend the same or more at KPG businesses than people staying there? But the fairness of it and the level of it aside the way fees are being collected show the lack of respect to visitors (mostly foreigners) and ruthlessness of organisers.

It's not the point that 100THB is not much for most tourists. It's a matter of principle that they are being surrounded with bariers (entrapment) and charge money if they want to leave the arrival area. But when the tickets are sold at Samui side nobody informs about additional costs to leave the pier on the other side. This leaves a sour feel amongst the visitors and should not be allowed.

As I suggested to the English speaking Thai gentelmen at the gate maybe a better way to collect the money for beach cleaning would be by some transparent surcharge on the speedboat tickets. But I guess that would require KPG mob to talk to Samui mob which is easier said than done. And the government ... is where?

Last time I went to FMP ( few years ago ) the speedboats pulled up off the party beach and people waded ashore, and visa versa. Does that no longer happen?

[Mark Wolfe]

According to the Phangan Info mini magazine:

Crowd sizes vary from around 8,000 in low season getting up to 30,000 in the high season...

100*8,000 = 800,000 baht (US$23,500)

100*30,000 = 3 million baht (US$88,450)

So in high season you could organize 100 folks to "clean" the beach and pick up trash or whatnot and pay then 30,000 baht each for the effort...

Instead of speculating, can someone who lives there go to the government office and official tourist office and find out what they say about this?

By the way, this Oct. 14th, the next party, why doesn't everyone demand a ticket/receipt?

[notime]

Last time I went to FMP ( few years ago ) the speedboats pulled up off the party beach and people waded ashore, and visa versa. Does that no longer happen?

No, this doesn't happen any more but maybe for the better because people had trouble remembering (I wonder why?) where they were dropped off so couldn't find the boat to take them back in the morning. The pier idea is good because the names of speedboats for the return trip are clearly marked above them and people can queue there.

About the receipt idea: although receipts for the money were not given we got nice rubber wrist bands with "Fullmoon Party 2008 Haad Rin THAILAND" written on them so at least the organising mob invests some of the money collected in giving something back.

I really think they may mean well, it's just their fee collection excercise sucks and leaves a sour taste amongst the visitors. Maybe we (farang) can help to achieve an outcome that fullfils some tax collecting objective (beach cleaning fee) but doesn't violate personal rights and feels like an ambush.

[5tash]

Anyone come across by boat from Samui to this month's FMP?

Was there a charge again?

Seems the security isn't quite up to scratch (see the "mugging" thread). Perhaps they should charge 200 Baht!

[juici]

Seems they are charging EVERYONE now. I wasn't there last night (Dec Full Moon) but heard this morning that they stopped everyone at the barrier that blocks traffic to Chicken Corner. Only people now who don't have to fork out, are people staying in Haad Rin resorts!

[Samuian]

its a scam !!...... after years and years of not making to much money, the thought of 500K a month for doing sweet FA one night a month was to good to miss

why not contact TAT and see what there thoughts are on the matter

They may suggest 500.- !

Boycott it and they come to their senses!

Loads, heaps of money is made from the party - it's just excessive "milking"...

Boycott them!

[ham]

that's what you get for 100 Baht, this one I've got at the mainstreet barage. The ones coming from Samui had a black one with yellow letters. What a bullshit.

TING TONG

Kinda army people made controle. Someone made a good deal with the rubber bands

And yesterday it was a very wett party. Big waves, high water, all beach wett and until 11 under water, people could not sit down, only drink, can you imagine the mess , not much people

[sbk]

We got a notice from the hadrin Business Association which is run by the kamnan announcing the new fee and asking us to let our customers know. it also stated that the bungalow owners in hadrin would be collecting the fee from guests staying in hadrin. I hope this money will help to build public toilets and more.

[Samuian]

We got a notice from the hadrin Business Association which is run by the kamnan announcing the new fee and asking us to let our customers know. it also stated that the bungalow owners in hadrin would be collecting the fee from guests staying in hadrin. I hope this money will help to build public toilets and more.

Who is doing the accounting?

[sbk]

How should I know? The letterhead said Hadrin Business Association. Try asking them

[angiud]

For what I know, they using the (some?) money to improve the security of the FMP.

Last week they put 12 remote operated CCTV in the hot points of Haad Rin (Cactus, Drop In, Pier, Chicken Corner, etc)

Yesterday more police, volunteers and local camouflage clothes security checking mostly thai, burmese and some old style raver (they prefer dreadlocks farangs)

Kathoei/ladyboys coming from Thong Sala or Samui must leave their ID cards to police check point and pick up when they leave the party, otherwise NO ENTRY.

BTW, very low people yesterday, and very very low coming from Koh Samui...

[mattias33]

According to the Phangan Info mini magazine:

Crowd sizes vary from around 8,000 in low season getting up to 30,000 in the high season...

100*8,000 = 800,000 baht (US$23,500)

100*30,000 = 3 million baht (US$88,450)

So in high season you could organize 100 folks to "clean" the beach and pick up trash or whatnot and pay then 30,000 baht each for the effort...

Instead of speculating, can someone who lives there go to the government office and official tourist office and find out what they say about this?

By the way, this Oct. 14th, the next party, why doesn't everyone demand a ticket/receipt?

Mark, why dont you take a trip to big buddha pier and have a look at the crowd heading for fmp the next time. .

I dont mean to be rude, but a fair assumption is 95 % of these youngsters dont even know what a receipt is. Secondly, they are so intoxicated, that asking for anything but a vodca/redbull-bucket or weed goes way over their capability.

"everyone, demand receipt!". Hahahaha. Good one mark!

[BIC]

The Hadrin Business Association (a non TAT registered group) is run by the family of the Village Chief Mr Khao and also has members such as Pewan PJ Travel and Kit from Siam Spa Ya and the owners of Phangan Buri and Phangan Bayshore. This group of people price fix all the internet and travel in Haadrin. They also have opened Hadrin Arena putting on Thai Boxing fights. They have been intimidating and threatening farang businesses for a number of years and forcing Haadrin Thai businesses to price fix. They tried to do the same with Massage businesses but many massage owners refused. The local Police are also extorting 'protection money' asking for around 5,000baht each month from farang buisnesses - one of the Haadrin Police is married to PJ Travel woman so they are all interlinked.

It is assumed the 100baht fee is mostly corruption money as when Mr Khao was requested to show where the money was spent at a recent Koh Phangan Tourism meeting he refused - therefore it could be assumed that most of the money does not go to beach cleaning or security. Burmese cleaners are used and it is true local businesses regularily recieve letters asking their staff to help with street security and cleaning. Some of the money has been used for a tractor - which is generally being used to ferry around a water tank for locals resorts which I guess they charge them for the water. A new beach cleaning machine has also been bought. 18 CCTV cameras have also been installed in Hadrin with the control room at Hadrin Police station but it is unknown who paid for the funding for this.

There are two locations for the 100baht fee - one at Haadrin pier which Mr Khao profits from and the other on the road into Hadrin near Phangan Bayshore. There is word that Phanagn Bayshore owner and the Ban Tai Oba-dor profit from this. There is gossip also that the HBA want resorts in Hadrin to charge for everyone who stays in hadrin to also pay a 100baht fee.

There is now a new Koh Phangan Tourism Group recently set up at a meeting of all island businesses invited to Thong Sala government office with 15 buisness members voted in .. the meeting was run by the HBA and subsequently it also has the members of the HBA as its senior decision makers. This means that the whole island is run by the HBA. It is understood that the KPTG group is not registered so far with TAT either so could be seen as being illegal but word has it that millions of baht are being made availableto them from Government to have a 25th anniversary Full Moon Party week long celebration in October 2009.

So there you go ... this is how Koh Phangan runs ... as of 2009 at least. It is unlikely that anything will change in relation to the power the HBA has as they are so interlinked with the Police and the Islands officials. The money being made by the few members of this group is so substantial that it is unlikely they will back down. The expression 'the only way is up' applies to the HBA who will most probably continue to find ways to make themselves more money.

There is one individual who should be recognised on Koh Phangan. His name is Sooty and he runs Paradise 'The Rock' bar - it is Sooty who started the first FMP all those years ago but he makes virtually nothing from it other than selling drinks in his bar as the HBA of which he is NOT a mamber has taken control of his FM Party and now 'own' it.

This is to the selfishness of the HBA members in Hadrin. An Anecdote: The power of a group is far greater than that of any one individual.

Tourism is massively down in Hadrin other than the 6 days during the FMP. Tourists dont want to stay as internet at 3baht per minute is the highest in Thailand! .. and room rates have increased massively over the years and so many tourists are being ripped off, room theft, bag snatching, pickpockets, bar attacks, police drug stings, violence and even murders.

The Thai business owners are losing so much money from lack of tourists due to the policies set up by the Hadrin Buisness Associtaion and the island's lack of professional Police Force and security. The richer (HBA) get richer and the poorer (Thai local businesses) get poorer. Hadrin Buisnesses are closing by the many.

Anecdote 2: 100baht FMP also goes towards Safety: Let's all remember Danny Hall (and his family) who has been missing since February FMP 2009.

Until Central Government, Surat Thani Governor and the Bangkok Police Chief get together to clean up this island then groups like the HBA will continue to control and dominate the decisions made on this beautiful Paradise island.

I suggest if you cannot accept how Koh Phangan is run then write or email the Surat Thani Governor and Cheif of Police to help the island.

[angiud]

The Hadrin Business Association (a non TAT registered group) is run by the family of the Village Chief Mr Khao and also has members such as Pewan PJ Travel and Kit from Siam Spa Ya and the owners of Phangan Buri and Phangan Bayshore. This group of people price fix all the internet and travel in Haadrin. They also have opened Hadrin Arena putting on Thai Boxing fights. They have been intimidating and threatening farang businesses for a number of years and forcing Haadrin Thai businesses to price fix. They tried to do the same with Massage businesses but many massage owners refused. The local Police are also extorting 'protection money' asking for around 5,000baht each month from farang buisnesses - one of the Haadrin Police is married to PJ Travel woman so they are all interlinked.

Is completely fake. Nobody pay any kind of protection both to police or Mr Kao.

The post is a mix of some true and many fake assumptions.

[BIC]

The Hadrin Business Association (a non TAT registered group) is run by the family of the Village Chief Mr Khao and also has members such as Pewan PJ Travel and Kit from Siam Spa Ya and the owners of Phangan Buri and Phangan Bayshore. This group of people price fix all the internet and travel in Haadrin. They also have opened Hadrin Arena putting on Thai Boxing fights. They have been intimidating and threatening farang businesses for a number of years and forcing Haadrin Thai businesses to price fix. They tried to do the same with Massage businesses but many massage owners refused. The local Police are also extorting 'protection money' asking for around 5,000baht each month from farang buisnesses - one of the Haadrin Police is married to PJ Travel woman so they are all interlinked.

Is completely fake. Nobody pay any kind of protection both to police or Mr Kao.

The post is a mix of some true and many fake assumptions.

Many thanks for your reply as its good to open up discussions like this - that was the objective of the posting. Let's hope there are many fake assumptions in my post as this would make Koh Phangan a much nicer place ... but Completely fake - sadly no. You have stated yourself that the post is a mix of some true and I would like you to elaborate on this and expand this discussion with more detail.

With regard to your commment about protection, this is actually true as after a recent full moon a member of Haadrin Police came in uniform to visit one of my farang friends with a bar/restuarent in Haadrin and was asked to come to over and meet 'his boss' - the Police guy asked for money and said as the business was making good money then they should 'donate' some money each month to 'help' the local police station then they could then protect his business 'should they have any problems with bad customers' etc. I do not state all the Police are doing this - it maybe just certain individuals operating on the their own. I did not mention Mr Kao taking any protection money and actually I think personally he also does alot of good in Hadrin and Hadrin has a much cleaner beach thanks to him. The People who 'follow' him are often a problem from what I have heard on the island.

But again thanks for your posting and please open the discussion with more detail as I agree any fake postings should be proven to be fake.

[HankChinasky]

Is completely fake. Nobody pay any kind of protection both to police or Mr Kao.

angiud, you are like the equivalent of highdiver but for KPG...

[angiud]

I have 2 restaurants in Haad Rin, one from 8 years one from 6. In all this years nobody come to ask money for any reason.

And I can say the same for some 10/15 more farang business in Haad Rin I know personally. I came in Haad Rin in 1999 opening one of the first farang bar (at that time very few farang business and only a few with regular company) and that time police check foreign business much more than now but, I repeat, in nearly 10 years I had contact with local police just a few times (permission, licence, alcohol permit, WP, etc) and I have a lucky good business, but never, ever a cop or whoever came in my shop or close to me and ask for some teamoney or protection.

Anyway I cannot answer for all the farang business in Haad Rin and, BTW, some of the assumptions mr. BIC make are true, I just talk about what I evidenced in bold.

Last, but not least, for my experience of KPG and for what I read on TV, is not so healthy complain about local boss or local cops. I mean, I don't like and I don't approve most of the things happening in KPG, but, like many people on TV say, This Is Thailand.

P.S.: Why, what Highdiver is doing in Samui??

[angiud]

I did not mention Mr Kao taking any protection money and actually I think personally he also does alot of good in Hadrin and Hadrin has a much cleaner beach thanks to him. The People who 'follow' him are often a problem from what I have heard on the island.

I agree.

[HankChinasky]

Last, but not least, for my experience of KPG and for what I read on TV, is not so healthy complain about local boss or local cops. I mean, I don't like and I don't approve most of the things happening in KPG, but, like many people on TV say, This Is Thailand.

P.S.: Why, what Highdiver is doing in Samui??

Ok, I withdraw what I said before, I was just mentioning that other poster as an example of peoples who defend the indefensible just to save the reputation of the place where they own businesses...

[BIC]

I did not mention Mr Kao taking any protection money and actually I think personally he also does alot of good in Hadrin and Hadrin has a much cleaner beach thanks to him. The People who 'follow' him are often a problem from what I have heard on the island.

I agree.

Anguid, thanks for your postings to open up an objective view on the issues ... maybe as you have had buisnesses in Haadrin for some years you don't get problems as you are known there. The one I mentioned was a pretty new business and around a year ago the same happened to owners of who took over a resort heading up to Leela Beach - they paid every month until a local Thai woman spoke on their behalf then the Police stopped coming.

I personally think the Full Moon Party is a good thing for the island especially in times of recession where it pulls in the tourists and as I said Mr Kao does a good job keeping the peace and providing support and services... but if 100baht is being taken then accounts should be shown and if the HBA is running it, then fine, take an income by the individuals concerned but show open accounting to those who wish to see it.

I am not looking to directly finger point at any individuals, police, village leaders or any local persons, which is why my posting states assumptions on hearsay as well as fact, but any committees being operated should I believe show transparent accounts and be run professionally and be properly registered with the appropriate Authorities such as TAT etc.

Thanks for any constructive comments.

[sbk]

Yes, sometimes its a good idea to know what you are talking about before you post. And let me remind everyone that before we start posting unfounded rumors that Thailand has very strict libel laws and the owners of this site would not be pleased to have problems due to posters who prefer to post anonymous gossip.

BIC,then might I suggest that you make clear that which is hearsay and based on nothing known for fact, thanks.

[EvilDrSomkid]

Having read through the previous pages, it is depressing and angering. I went to KPN first time in 2004. Loved it. However, I thought Haad Rin to be a shithole then and everytime after I went through it just get to another beach I noticed it has just gotten worse. Haad Rin will be just like Chaweng in a few years.

Someone mentioned all the unfriendly attitudes by the Thais towards tourists. This is partially the tourists fault. Many people who go for the FMPs are downright rude and obnoxious to the locals. Dare I mention our Friends from the Promised Land?

The island has been robbed of the charm it once had. KPN had lost it way before I ever went. Rin Beach itself is beautiful however, if you ignore the horrible "bars". CCTV? You must be taking the piss...

I have never been to a FMP and avoid it like the plague. In fact, I would say that it is the FMP which has ruined the island. If you search for Koh Phangan on YouTube, all you get are FMP videos. Makes me puke. I dont understand why people keep uploading those. THere are 1000s of the same!

As for the 100baht fee, of course it is a scam. But because its an island (closed community), nothing will be done to stop it. NOTHING happens in this country unless someone is making a pile of cash out of it.

I wonder what KPN was like 20 or even just 10 years ago.

Why are people here so good at f*cking up a good thing? Please stop me before I go into full thai bashing mode...

[BIC]

Yes, sometimes its a good idea to know what you are talking about before you post. And let me remind everyone that before we start posting unfounded rumors that Thailand has very strict libel laws and the owners of this site would not be pleased to have problems due to posters who prefer to post anonymous gossip.

BIC,then might I suggest that you make clear that which is hearsay and based on nothing known for fact, thanks.

In request for clarification of the posting, the original posting details are repeated with a further comment below each section.

The Hadrin Business Association (a non TAT registered group) is run by the family of the Village Chief Mr Khao and also has members such as Pewan PJ Travel and Kit from Siam Spa Ya and the owners of Phangan Buri and Phangan Bayshore. This group of people price fix all the internet and travel in Haadrin. They also have opened Hadrin Arena putting on Thai Boxing fights.

FACT

They have been intimidating and threatening farang businesses for a number of years and forcing Haadrin Thai businesses to price fix. They tried to do the same with Massage businesses but many massage owners refused.

ASSUMPTION - The HBA cannot be accused of intimidation or threatening BUT certain members of this group have been involved in this. The price fixing is lead by HBA and the local buisness often meet and vote on the prices. Each month prices are upgraded by HBA and issued to all agencies. FACT: Massage parlours refused.

The local Police are also extorting 'protection money' asking for around 5,000baht each month from farang buisnesses - one of the Haadrin Police is married to PJ Travel woman so they are all interlinked.

HEARSAY that it is the Local police. However, 2 cases of uniformed officers requesting and taking payment have occurred but this may be done independently.

There are two locations for the 100baht fee - one at Haadrin pier which Mr Khao profits from and the other on the road into Hadrin near Phangan Bayshore. There is word that Phanagn Bayshore owner and the Ban Tai Oba-dor profit from this. There is gossip also that the HBA want resorts in Hadrin to charge for everyone who stays in hadrin to also pay a 100baht fee.

HEARSAY on who actually profits and who takes the funds.

There is now a new Koh Phangan Tourism Group recently set up at a meeting of all island businesses invited to Thong Sala government office with 15 buisness members voted in .. the meeting was run by the HBA and subsequently it also has the members of the HBA as its senior decision makers.

FACT based that 5 members of the HBA are the leading members in this KPTG.

This means that the whole island is run by the HBA.

FALSE ASSUMPTION.

It is understood that the KPTG group is not registered so far with TAT either so could be seen as being illegal but word has it that millions of baht are being made availableto them from Government to have a 25th anniversary Full Moon Party week long celebration in October 2009.

ASSUMPTION based from someone at the meeting

So there you go ... this is how Koh Phangan runs ... as of 2009 at least. It is unlikely that anything will change in relation to the power the HBA has as they are so interlinked with the Police and the Islands officials. The money being made by the few members of this group is so substantial that it is unlikely they will back down. The expression 'the only way is up' applies to the HBA who will most probably continue to find ways to make themselves more money.

ASSUMPTION

There is one individual who should be recognised on Koh Phangan. His name is Sooty and he runs Paradise 'The Rock' bar - it is Sooty who started the first FMP all those years ago but he makes virtually nothing from it other than selling drinks in his bar as the HBA of which he is NOT a mamber has taken control of his FM Party and now 'own' it.

FACT

This is to the selfishness of the HBA members in Hadrin. An Anecdote: The power of a group is far greater than that of any one individual.

HEARSAY

Tourism is massively down in Hadrin other than the 6 days during the FMP. Tourists dont want to stay as internet at 3baht per minute is the highest in Thailand! .. and room rates have increased massively over the years and so many tourists are being ripped off, room theft, bag snatching, pickpockets, bar attacks, police drug stings, violence and even murders.

FACT (except drug stings which is based on HEARSAY)

The Thai business owners are losing so much money from lack of tourists due to the policies set up by the Hadrin Buisness Associtaion and the island's lack of professional Police Force and security. The richer (HBA) get richer and the poorer (Thai local businesses) get poorer. Hadrin Buisnesses are closing by the many.

PART FACT PART HEARSAY

Anecdote 2: 100baht FMP also goes towards Safety: Let's all remember Danny Hall (and his family) who has been missing since February FMP 2009.

REMEMBER DANNY HALL.

[sbk]

Anecdote 2: 100baht FMP also goes towards Safety: Let's all remember Danny Hall (and his family) who has been missing since February FMP 2009.

REMEMBER DANNY HALL.

http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/Danny-Hall-M...p;hl=danny+hall

February 2008.

[angiud]

BIC, many of the facts you write could be true, but what you show and predict about Haad Rin basically is what happen in any place in Thailand and in most of the world countries: Capitalist/profit logic, big groups sharing the market killing the weak business, etc etc

Try to understand that Thailand is far behind many fist world countries for what is politically correct, justice, etc. Moreover Haad Rin is an island inside an island (very far from BKK too) and local people are inclined to make their own rules and laws, usually for their own profit.

Not easy then to row in another direction, especially for us farang. Only when the small fishes will behave like a flock there will be a hope for some change.

For the chronicle: local and farang people star to complain now, with a big world economical crisis, but until one year ago, everybody were happy to make money and not so complaining.

PS: Danny Hall disappear after a full moon party, but nobody really know what really happen and in there was some connection with the FMP.

[sbk]

Neither was he staying in Hadrin, but in Sritanu and nor was there any security at that time.

As for some of the "facts" well, I was going to post but decided not to. No point, BIC seems so certain of their "facts" that there really is no point in arguing about it.

[imjustagirl]

personally, i would not mind paying the 100 baht fee at all if it really was going to clean up after the mess and to ensure security at the party...sadly i have seen little in the way of security improvement (last party i met four people who had been robbed, my phone was nicked and my thai friend was chased by a gang of lads who had not too pleasant intentions for her) If they could build some CLEAN public toilets and actually provide some safe areas then i would give a thumbs up. As it is, i don't think i will bother with the full moon party anymore, i find the method of extortion of this money to be underhanded by trapping people as they get off the boats. I will go to the half moon and black moon parties though :-) Its not the matter of the 100 baht (as these other parties actually cost more) its the method and justification for the 100 baht i do not believe is right - ie grinning thugs with threatening demeanors if you dare question what the 100 baht is for.....

I hate to say it but i am beginning to lose my enthusiasm for Thailand....the locals just don't seem as friendly as when i came here 4 years ago and there just seems to be scam after scam after scam.......for the first time ever am considering it time to move on from the land of smiles, maybe in a year or so, i really thought i would be here forever :-(