Similian National Park to protect swimmers from jet-skiers
Phuket Gazette


Similian island vista. Photo: Mathias Krumbholz

PHUKET: -- The Similan National Park chief vowed to establish zones to protect swimmers from jet-skiers as the park prepares for opening day on November 1.

The swimmers will be separated from those playing on jet-skis by buoys.

“This will prevent swimmers and snorkellers from being hit by jet-skis. We want to ensure that all visitors feel safe, and can fully enjoy their visit to the park,” Seafarer Divers Administrative Manager Prapai Lidureau told the Phuket Gazette.

Another measure to be implemented at the national park this year is a limitation on the number of food vendors on the islands in order to curtail refuse and protect the park's almost-pristine environment.

“We will be able to keep beaches clean, since tourists will finish eating in our restaurants and therefore leave garbage inside the restaurant. This will greatly reduce the amount of litter on the beaches.

“Moreover, the national park will also earn additional revenue from the tourists, which is good because the money will be used to maintain and develop the park.”

The two new measures to be implemented were the outcome of a meeting yesterday that involved representatives from the diving industry and tour guide companies.

The meeting was hosted by Similan National Park Chief Mana Phermpool and his staff.

Source: http://www.phuketgazette.net/phuket_news/2013/Similian-National-Park-to-protect-swimmers-from-jet-skiers-22348.html


-- Phuket Gazette 2013-09-26

It's a national park, those jet ski have nothing to do there. Not happy enough to steal money from the park entrance fees "chief" wants now take part in the jet ski scam there too, because it's what will happen

Just ban jet skis here, they are a pain in everyway.

It's a national park, those jet ski have nothing to do there. Not happy enough to steal money from the park entrance fees "chief" wants now take part in the jet ski scam there too, because it's what will happen

totally agree , but have to wait till a celebrity posts a picture on twitter while on a jet-ski before they send the police in to do something about it , it is not likely to be legal to play with those noisy gas and oil guzzling and leaking machines there anyway

The mind boggles - jet skis in the Similans wow.

These people,to make a profit,can sell their mothers...or their daughters if they are good looking.Their greediness has no limits.

Just ban jet skis here, they are a pain in everyway.

Under Thai law, jet-skis may only be operated by people holding a valid Thai sea captain's license.

The swimmers will be separated from those playing on jet-skis by buoys.

I give this less than a day.

Tourism and its associated ignorance, greed and corruption, are destroying the natural values of the Similan Islands, plain as day. Same can be said for all the marine parks along Thailand's Andaman coast. Park management seemingly don't have the will to do anything about it.

I had thought that Similian would be jet ski free. How far that cancer has spread.

I also thought the jet-skis were not allowed to the Similans. My last trip there was 2006 and have thought of going back there at some point.

But if there is jet-skis now, I think I rather keep beautiful memories intact.

jet skis on similan?

These people,to make a profit,can sell their mothers...or their daughters if they are good looking.Their greediness has no limits.

supply and demand. there's NO sale if there's NO customer.

And I thought that national parks were set up to protect fish and other wildlife.

I don't think this article is correct. AFAIK jetskis are not allowed at Similans and will not be allowed.

So who determines who gets this lucrative "concession"? Unbelievable that this is even being considered, much less allowed in national parks.

So who determines who gets this lucrative "concession"? Unbelievable that this is even being considered, much less allowed in national parks.

It is not being considered, jetski's are not allowed, so no concession.

>>The two new measures to be implemented were the outcome of a meeting yesterday that involved representatives from the diving industry and tour guide companies.

The meeting was hosted by Similan National Park Chief Mana Phermpool and his staff.

Stevenl, if you were at the meeting and have the notes, I'd love to see what they were discussing instead of jet skis and food vendors. Otherwise, how do you know what was presented at the meeting?

So who determines who gets this lucrative "concession"? Unbelievable that this is even being considered, much less allowed in national parks.

It is not being considered, jetski's are not allowed, so no concession.

Do you know something that the park chief doesn't............or, is it wishful thinking that the policy hasn't changed?

Speedboats were discussed after some mishaps in other places, not jetskis. So attempt will be made to regulate the speedboats and keep them away from swimmers.

Jetskis are not allowed and (afaik, you never know) there are no plans to allow them in the future.

Edit: you can check the link in the OP, PG has amended the article.

Correction by Phuket Gazette

Similian National Park to protect swimmers from speedboats

PHUKET: The Similan National Park chief vowed to establish zones to protect swimmers from speedboats* as the park prepares for opening day on November 1.

The swimmers will be separated from speedboats by buoys.

This will prevent swimmers and snorkellers from being hit by speeboats. We want to ensure that all visitors feel safe, and can fully enjoy their visit to the park, Seafarer Divers Administrative Manager Prapai Lidureau told the Phuket Gazette.

Another measure to be implemented at the national park this year is a limitation on the number of food vendors on the islands in order to curtail refuse and protect the park's almost-pristine environment.

We will be able to keep beaches clean, since tourists will finish eating in our restaurants and therefore leave garbage inside the restaurant. This will greatly reduce the amount of litter on the beaches.

Moreover, the national park will also earn additional revenue from the tourists, which is good because the money will be used to maintain and develop the park.

The two new measures to be implemented were the outcome of a meeting yesterday that involved representatives from the diving industry and tour guide companies.

The meeting was hosted by Similan National Park Chief Mana Phermpool and his staff.

* The original report mistakenly identified that jet-skis were operated within the Similan National Park. The error is regretted.

Source: http://www.phuketgazette.net/phuket_news/2013/Similian-National-Park-to-protect-swimmers-from-jet-skiers-22348.html

-- Phuket Gazette 2013-09-26

Good news! Now if the fishing boats could be stopped from illegal fishing inside the national parks that would be a great step forward.

Best we close this to save further confusion.

Continue ---> http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/670799-similian-national-park-to-protect-swimmers-from-speedboats/