Beach access on Surin Beach

[suave]

I have been having trouble at Surin beach.
I have been to Surin Beach to go swimming the last two days (june 12-13th 2013) and the tide has been high. I go to the north end of the beach because there are lots of people there swimming and it is safer. Where I put my towel was not covered by beach lounges but was just dry. The first day I came out of the water and someone from the "Catch Beach Club" restaurant had removed my things and put them elsewhere. When I asked why they did this they said that the beach is theirs and that I could not be there. I told them that if they touched my things again I would call police and they left me alone. Today was the same high tide and I found a vacant patch of dry sand and put down my towel. This time four differnt people came to me an told me I had to leave that the beach is theirs and that I had to go. I explained that it is a public beach and that it was high tide and when the tide dropped I would move closer to the water, he said that was not good enough that they own the whole beach and said he will call government, I told him to please do and call the police too. I dont think he called anyone but he came back again and tried to intimidate me with a big guy he brought with him. Who can I contact about this? This establishment does not own the beach right? thanks.

[patongphil]

Could be better off in the Phuket Forum but either way I don't like your chances up against the beach Mafia.

[metisdead]

Could be better off in the Phuket Forum

Moving to Phuket forum.

[Shot]

Talk to the Manager at Catch Beach Club. Have him and the Police sort it out

[LivinginKata]

You should phone the tourist police on 1155 and clearly state your complaint.

[suave]

The last guy to come down and really rag on me said he was the manager, but before that someone told me the manager was away.

[Paangjang]

The last guy to come down and really rag on me said he was the manager, but before that someone told me the manager was away.

Was this a foreigner or Thai? The manager is a very reasonable and professional foreign man named Ben. The restaurant manager is a short angry Thai muslim man named Nut.

[suave]

Ya it was a Thai man, and he was short.

[Jimi007]

The beach is the King's land to the mean high tide line, therefore public. Period, end of discussion. Call the tourist police and hope they answer... Good luck.

[patongphil]

The last guy to come down and really rag on me said he was the manager, but before that someone told me the manager was away.

Was this a foreigner or Thai? The manager is a very reasonable and professional foreign man named Ben. The restaurant manager is a short angry Thai muslim man named Nut.

Not very professional if he lets his satff act like this is he!!!

[hansgruber]

Just buy a beverage from them.

That shuts them up. Even just a bottle of water at an inflated price makes you a customer.

[suave]

Is mean high tide the start of the tree line?

[Jimi007]

Knowing me I would go off in Thai at them. I just asked my wife what would happen if someone told me I couldn't put my towel on the beach. She said; big problem!

[Jimi007]

Is mean high tide the start of the tree line?

No. But then talking to my wife, where ever the water ever comes at the highest tide is the King's land. But as she says: people think because they are because they are big money or have stayed there a long time they feel they are entitled to encroach on the King's land. As I would say or she would say show me your chanote title to this land you claim to be yours. But then saying that she says hope someone won't shoot you for starting a big problem...

[suave]

well shoot or shit kick. However these guys pretty much told me that they dont want there guest to see people on the beach. I will try the 1155 call next time.

[suave]

Is mean high tide the start of the tree line?

No. But then talking to my wife, where ever the water ever comes at the highest tide is the King's land. But as she says: people think because they are because they are big money or have stayed there a long time they feel they are entitled to encroach on the King's land. As I would say or she would say show me your chanote title to this land you claim to be yours. But then saying that she says hope someone won't shoot you for starting a big problem...

I found this on that....

Mr Suta also said people take advantage of confusion which arises from the beach zoning laws, most notably where the invisible high tide line – from which the various zones along the beach are defined – is drawn.

As to the upper edge of the beach, this is usually taken to be the tree lines. There have been stories of business owners planting trees in the sand to try and bring forward the treeline.

[Jimi007]

well shoot or shit kick. However these guys pretty much told me that they dont want there guest to see people on the beach. I will try the 1155 call next time.

Good luck! I use to argue with the people at Laem Sing 8 years ago telling me I couldn't park on the public road! No laws are enforced, unless there is a profit for the police... And the police are taking kickbacks from the Thai businesses that aren't totally legal and don't stand up to them. Most likely you aren't going to win against these thugs as they have been there and have the attitude that it is their land. But I'm all for you trying! Let us know how it turns out. I haven't been near that area in over 7 years for good reason. We had a new taxi stand at Nai Harn this year. I was just on my motorbike checking the surf. This Thai guy I'd never seen there in the 7 years I'd been living here, told me I can't park next to the public road where I always parked. I went off at him in Thai. He high waied me and said sorry, sorry! Now he always says hello to me.

[andreandre]

Knowing me I would go off in Thai at them. I just asked my wife what would happen if someone told me I couldn't put my towel on the beach. She said; big problem!

Do you really think that a farang ''going off at them" in Thai , or even in English would go anywhere towards solving a problem as in the OP?

your #9 was a much more intelligent suggestion IMO..

[zaZa9]

Knowing me I would go off in Thai at them. I just asked my wife what would happen if someone told me I couldn't put my towel on the beach. She said; big problem!

Do you really think that a farang ''going off at them" in Thai , or even in English would go anywhere towards solving a problem as in the OP?

your #9 was a much more intelligent suggestion IMO..

Agreed.... we are thrilled you got high waied by a Thai ...are you recommending a speed course to Thai fluency or simply big noting?

I suggest that 'suave' call the number BEFORE his next visit , stating what has happened and determining what the 'rules' are and if they will be policed , then inform them of the time of his next visit and whether someone will be available.

It never fails to amaze me how so many Thais who profess great love of the Monarch are so willing to steal from or personally exploit his property.

[falkan]

video video youtube youtube

[Jimi007]

Knowing me I would go off in Thai at them. I just asked my wife what would happen if someone told me I couldn't put my towel on the beach. She said; big problem!

Do you really think that a farang ''going off at them" in Thai , or even in English would go anywhere towards solving a problem as in the OP?

your #9 was a much more intelligent suggestion IMO..

Agreed.... we are thrilled you got high waied by a Thai ...are you recommending a speed course to Thai fluency or simply big noting?

I suggest that 'suave' call the number BEFORE his next visit , stating what has happened and determining what the 'rules' are and if they will be policed , then inform them of the time of his next visit and whether someone will be available.

It never fails to amaze me how so many Thais who profess great love of the Monarch are so willing to steal from or personally exploit his property.

I agree with your last sentence. I also can't believe how Thais say they love Thailand and are so proud of their country, yet trash the land and the ocean, cut down and encroach on their national parks and really don't take care of their environment. I was just relating my last experience when someone who had no right to tell me what to do on public land and thought I was just some stupid tourist who he thought he could order around and I got pissed off. He backed off... I rather doubt that there would be any preemptive police response as you suggest. But yes it couldn't hurt to call and ask what his rights are and whether they will back him up if confronted again.

[suave]

I am going to suggest something here that amuses me. Perhaps all of you could take a trip down to the Surin beach and sit close Mr Nut' lounge chairs at the "Catch Beach Club" and see if he is interested in chasing everyone away?

[Peterocket]

I am going to suggest something here that amuses me. Perhaps all of you could take a trip down to the Surin beach and sit close Mr Nut' lounge chairs at the "Catch Beach Club" and see if he is interested in chasing everyone away?

That would be great! I would love to see it...

Many of the beach clubs rent their land on the beach which is why they say it belongs to them and for this reason they don't want people sitting on their rented area for free.

On a side note this high season should see some changes to the beach chairs their, I heard there will be maximum of two rows of chairs at any point and that all the restaurants in the car park will be moved to be adjacent to the new stadium....time will tell.

[EBlair48]

I am going to suggest something here that amuses me. Perhaps all of you could take a trip down to the Surin beach and sit close Mr Nut' lounge chairs at the "Catch Beach Club"

^^ And then you'll then find the entire parking lot taken over by taxis

^ Great suggestion, Suave- what day and time? How about a complaint, or even petition to the Cherng-Telay Or Bor Tor, they are who control that beach

Edited July 14, 2013 by EBlair48

[suave]

I am going to suggest something here that amuses me. Perhaps all of you could take a trip down to the Surin beach and sit close Mr Nut' lounge chairs at the "Catch Beach Club"

^^ And then you'll then find the entire parking lot taken over by taxis

^ Great suggestion, Suave- what day and time? How about a complaint, or even petition to the Cherng-Telay Or Bor Tor, they are who control that beach

I was not thinking of a mass protest, just anyone that wanted to test the waters to do it at will, he will think of me I am sure, lol.

[EBlair48]

Why not, we can have our own farang spring !

[suave]

Why not, we can have our own farang spring !

I just want to be able to use the beach to sit, not get tossed out of the country for insighting an uprising, lol.

[suave]

I received this reply to an email from the group that owns the club on the beach, below their response I will put my response to them. If I hear back again I will post it too.

My name is Olivier Gibaud and I lead the management of the varying assets and operations of Twinpalms Group in Phuket, Thailand. First of all allow me to thank you for addressing your email to me and taking the time to relate your recent experiences on Surin Beach, across Catch Beach Club.

As you are rightly pointing out, beaches in Thailand are public, in fact, so are roads, temples, parks, ect and therefore no one own them, beaches in this case have been and continue to be Phuket's jewel and one of the main reason many tourists, Phuket Residents and Thai national come to visit the southern shores of Thailand.

Allow me to speak about Surin Beach mainly as it is the beach I know best. Many years ago, the entire length of the beach was divided into 20+ spaces, those spaces usually comprise of both a land and a sand part, one large central beach space, across the public car park is mostly left un-cared for and primarily used by locals and overseas visitors to freely enjoy the sandy beach and water of Surin Beach.

The other 20+ smaller spaces located north and south of the central section were allocated to local families, providing them with the duty of care and use of individual "building" on the land side and in most cases the duty & right of caring & servicing the sandy part which lays across the building. The caring & servicing include but is not limited to daily cleaning of the sand from the water edges to the pedestrian way, the removal of debris such trees in the water, plastic, jelly fishes, ect, in some cases the planting of trees to preserve sand and shade, the supply of sun-chairs and umbrellas often made available subject to a minimal fee, the preparation, service and sale of food and drink on the beach, often coming from the supporting building across the sandy part.

In the case of Catch Beach Club, it is the result of a join venture between a number of local space holders and Twinpalms Group, those, together endeavored to provide the finest possible beach side lifestyle, now after 7 years recognized by tourists and locals and internationally by many institutions such as CNN as amongst the best beach side venues in the world. In order to do so, Catch Beach Club has been serviced by almost 100 local employees whom in-turn care for over 1'000 family members as a result of their earnings. Catch Beach Club also supports multiple local businesses supplying fruits, vegetables, seafood, water and all the daily necessities related to such servicing. This particular venue and venture is VAT registered and declares all its revenue to the local government.

My understanding of your recent experiences is that the beach caretakers of Catch Beach Club took the liberty to relocate your belonging which were laying on the sand close to sun-chairs to the side of the beach club, in an area that was free, allowing for clear view and passage from the beach club to the water, upon your refusal to move to an less occupied area, possibly over barring attitudes and words were exchanged for which I would like to apologies.

If I may, allow me to recommend a number of options for you to consider in order to avoid reoccurrence of such events either at Catch Beach Club or in fact in most of the serviced parts of Surin Beach;

• make use of the central part of the beach, there, I trust you will be able and welcome to lay freely where you wish as no services are offered on this particular section of Surin Beach
• alternatively, you are naturally welcome to return to the small section of the beach that is serviced by Catch Beach Club however we would ask that you make use of the services offered such as sun chair, umbrella, towels and all related facilities, such as showers, toilets, restaurant, bar, music and décor, those come at a cost that you can use as credit for consumption
• you may also naturally visit and support any other service provider along Surin beach preferably following their individual requirement and enjoying their offerings.

I trust that you will continue to enjoy the beaches of Phuket, especially Surin which all service providers want to preserve as if not the best surely one of the best in the world. I hope to having been supportive and apologetic in providing you with an inside as to the "common practices" on Surin Beach for sure but in fact on most popular and heavily patronized beaches of Phuket, Thailand, Asia and in fact the world.

Best Regards

Olivier Gibaud

General Manager

My response:

Dear Sir: Thank you for your response. I believe you have been told that I was in the way of people coming an going, this is not true, I lay my towel down infront of large platforms that left the way clear just as it was before I got there. I was in no ones way, and I do have witnesses. I was at that end of the beach because of the fact that there were no swimmers along the center of the beach and it is safer in these waves and rips to be where other people are, which I told to Mr Nut, but he continued to harass me. I was only there for maybe an hour, maybe an hour and a half. I realize that a lot of people make their living from the beaches, however the area in front of the club was at least 90% empty, and I was in no way obstructing and in an out traffic in the four foot by two foot area I was occupying. I also do not like being told that Im a eyesore to the hotel guests because I am swimming on their beach, I too am paying to stay on the island. During your reply the only fix to this was for me to go elsewhere, or buy some services, I do buy services, both food and surfing equipment on the beach and nick nacks for some of women sellers on occasion.

[KarenBravo]

They cannot tell you to move if you were below the mean high-tide mark. They cannot own, or lease that land. End of story.

[Jimi007]

I received this reply to an email from the group that owns the club on the beach, below their response I will put my response to them. If I hear back again I will post it too.

My name is Olivier Gibaud and I lead the management of the varying assets and operations of Twinpalms Group in Phuket, Thailand. First of all allow me to thank you for addressing your email to me and taking the time to relate your recent experiences on Surin Beach, across Catch Beach Club.

As you are rightly pointing out, beaches in Thailand are public, in fact, so are roads, temples, parks, ect and therefore no one own them, beaches in this case have been and continue to be Phuket's jewel and one of the main reason many tourists, Phuket Residents and Thai national come to visit the southern shores of Thailand.

Allow me to speak about Surin Beach mainly as it is the beach I know best. Many years ago, the entire length of the beach was divided into 20+ spaces, those spaces usually comprise of both a land and a sand part, one large central beach space, across the public car park is mostly left un-cared for and primarily used by locals and overseas visitors to freely enjoy the sandy beach and water of Surin Beach.

The other 20+ smaller spaces located north and south of the central section were allocated to local families, providing them with the duty of care and use of individual "building" on the land side and in most cases the duty & right of caring & servicing the sandy part which lays across the building. The caring & servicing include but is not limited to daily cleaning of the sand from the water edges to the pedestrian way, the removal of debris such trees in the water, plastic, jelly fishes, ect, in some cases the planting of trees to preserve sand and shade, the supply of sun-chairs and umbrellas often made available subject to a minimal fee, the preparation, service and sale of food and drink on the beach, often coming from the supporting building across the sandy part.

In the case of Catch Beach Club, it is the result of a join venture between a number of local space holders and Twinpalms Group, those, together endeavored to provide the finest possible beach side lifestyle, now after 7 years recognized by tourists and locals and internationally by many institutions such as CNN as amongst the best beach side venues in the world. In order to do so, Catch Beach Club has been serviced by almost 100 local employees whom in-turn care for over 1'000 family members as a result of their earnings. Catch Beach Club also supports multiple local businesses supplying fruits, vegetables, seafood, water and all the daily necessities related to such servicing. This particular venue and venture is VAT registered and declares all its revenue to the local government.

My understanding of your recent experiences is that the beach caretakers of Catch Beach Club took the liberty to relocate your belonging which were laying on the sand close to sun-chairs to the side of the beach club, in an area that was free, allowing for clear view and passage from the beach club to the water, upon your refusal to move to an less occupied area, possibly over barring attitudes and words were exchanged for which I would like to apologies.

If I may, allow me to recommend a number of options for you to consider in order to avoid reoccurrence of such events either at Catch Beach Club or in fact in most of the serviced parts of Surin Beach;

• make use of the central part of the beach, there, I trust you will be able and welcome to lay freely where you wish as no services are offered on this particular section of Surin Beach
• alternatively, you are naturally welcome to return to the small section of the beach that is serviced by Catch Beach Club however we would ask that you make use of the services offered such as sun chair, umbrella, towels and all related facilities, such as showers, toilets, restaurant, bar, music and décor, those come at a cost that you can use as credit for consumption
• you may also naturally visit and support any other service provider along Surin beach preferably following their individual requirement and enjoying their offerings.

I trust that you will continue to enjoy the beaches of Phuket, especially Surin which all service providers want to preserve as if not the best surely one of the best in the world. I hope to having been supportive and apologetic in providing you with an inside as to the "common practices" on Surin Beach for sure but in fact on most popular and heavily patronized beaches of Phuket, Thailand, Asia and in fact the world.

Best Regards

Olivier Gibaud

General Manager

My response:

Dear Sir: Thank you for your response. I believe you have been told that I was in the way of people coming an going, this is not true, I lay my towel down infront of large platforms that left the way clear just as it was before I got there. I was in no ones way, and I do have witnesses. I was at that end of the beach because of the fact that there were no swimmers along the center of the beach and it is safer in these waves and rips to be where other people are, which I told to Mr Nut, but he continued to harass me. I was only there for maybe an hour, maybe an hour and a half. I realize that a lot of people make their living from the beaches, however the area in front of the club was at least 90% empty, and I was in no way obstructing and in an out traffic in the four foot by two foot area I was occupying. I also do not like being told that Im a eyesore to the hotel guests because I am swimming on their beach, I too am paying to stay on the island. During your reply the only fix to this was for me to go elsewhere, or buy some services, I do buy services, both food and surfing equipment on the beach and nick nacks for some of women sellers on occasion.

What a patronizing load of crap his response was. And clearly not true... I personally never cared much for Surin Beach in the first place. And I've heard nothing but bad things about the place in the past few years about thugs taking over that area. But it's not likely to change. They all have their noses in the trough and they are all very hungry!