Tourists Told To Stay Off Songkhla Seas
By Khaosod Online



BANGKOK: -- The Thai Meteorological Department has advised tourists against swimming in or venturing out to the seas off the shore of Songkhla province due to dangerous weather.

The meteorological department responsible for the southeastern province said that heavy rains would be hitting the region in upcoming days and may cause big waves at several beaches.

In the most severe conditions, the waves could be as high as 3 metres, the report says.

Mr. Somsak Tantiseranee, Mayor of Songkhla Municipality, also expressed his concern for the tourists visiting the province during the ongoing monsoon season.

According to the mayor, tourists who planned to visit Samila beach and Chalatat beach should be extremely careful when they go swimming in the sea. He suggested it would be best for the tourists to avoid sea-swimming at all if possible.

He added that the authority is attempting to avoid any risk due to several reports about tourists drowning during monsoon season.

As a precaution, Songkhla Municipality has also placed warning signs around the pine trees at the beach informing the tourists not to picnic under the trees, as the pine trees could be uprooted by strong gushes of winds.

Source: http://www.khaosod.co.th/en/view_newsonline.php?newsid=TVRNNE1qWTNOVFUxTnc9PQ==

-- KHAOSOD English 2013-10-25

It takes special Thai Tourist Safety logic to put up a sign in Thai Language that only means anything to people who read Thai.

For less paint but at the expense of some thought they could have used a universal means of communication.....

It takes special Thai Tourist Safety logic to put up a sign in Thai Language that only means anything to people who read Thai.

For less paint but at the expense of some thought they could have used a universal means of communication.....

I was thinking the same. Would it not make more sense to have warning signs in Thai, English and Malay to cover all bases?

It takes special Thai Tourist Safety logic to put up a sign in Thai Language that only means anything to people who read Thai.

For less paint but at the expense of some thought they could have used a universal means of communication.....

I was thinking the same. Would it not make more sense to have warning signs in Thai, English and Malay to cover all bases?

I think you are missing the point here. With this International NO SWIMMING sign, no written language is necessary.

But then most tourists to Songkhla are Thai!

How does a tourist understand that sign? ? ?

Is not a big problem because in Songkla there is no one going to swim into the sea... thai people just eat under the trees on the beach!!

How does a tourist understand that sign? ? ?

...by learning Thai!

It takes special Thai Tourist Safety logic to put up a sign in Thai Language that only means anything to people who read Thai.

For less paint but at the expense of some thought they could have used a universal means of communication.....

I was thinking the same. Would it not make more sense to have warning signs in Thai, English and Malay to cover all bases?

I think you are missing the point here. With this International NO SWIMMING sign, no written language is necessary.

An explanation of why you shouldn't swim there makes more sense instead of just the sign. Maybe they should also point out there's some nasty rips on Samila beach as well.

Then again the chance of 3m waves should put most people off but there's always the foolish macho types who see it as a challenge, I know this from my own foolish youth. Not a strong swimmer but going out into the sea off Cornwall (west England) in the winter months just to test myself.

But then most tourists to Songkhla are Thai!

Sorry Stocky but you will find if you go there that most are Malaysian - buses full of them every weekend.

Is not a big problem because in Songkla there is no one going to swim into the sea... thai people just eat under the trees on the beach!!

Partly true, the vast majority of beach goers in Songkhla's main beach don't go swimming.

But enough of them do that it's prudent to post warnings, and enough of them are non-Thai readers that it would be a good idea to post with the international standard signage.

Lots of foreign visitors from nearby countries that won't read English, either.

Yep!!! That's Thai logic and intelligence for you !

It takes special Thai Tourist Safety logic to put up a sign in Thai Language that only means anything to people who read Thai.

For less paint but at the expense of some thought they could have used a universal means of communication.....

Yep!!! That's Thai logic and intelligence for you !

It takes special Thai Tourist Safety logic to put up a sign in Thai Language that only means anything to people who read Thai.

For less paint but at the expense of some thought they could have used a universal means of communication.....

Or maybe they're really smart and we're not getting the message?

It takes special Thai Tourist Safety logic to put up a sign in Thai Language that only means anything to people who read Thai.

For less paint but at the expense of some thought they could have used a universal means of communication.....

I was thinking the same. Would it not make more sense to have warning signs in Thai, English and Malay to cover all bases?

I think you are missing the point here. With this International NO SWIMMING sign, no written language is necessary.

An explanation of why you shouldn't swim there makes more sense instead of just the sign. Maybe they should also point out there's some nasty rips on Samila beach as well.

Then again the chance of 3m waves should put most people off but there's always the foolish macho types who see it as a challenge, I know this from my own foolish youth. Not a strong swimmer but going out into the sea off Cornwall (west England) in the winter months just to test myself.

I understand what you are saying and I have seen such signs (with explanations) used in Hawaii but you gotta remember where you are (assuming you are in Thailand). No administration here will put out the money for such signs and it wouldn'r matter anyway as drunk or "foolish macho" is always gonna' trump "the sign", explanation or not. IMO

But then most tourists to Songkhla are Thai!

Sorry Stocky but you will find if you go there that most are Malaysian - buses full of them every weekend.

I do go to Songkhla, and to the beach further south at Sakom, and I meet mostly Thais on holiday.

Perhaps I'm there on different days to you!

But regardless, a simple graphic would convey the message far quicker.

It takes special Thai Tourist Safety logic to put up a sign in Thai Language that only means anything to people who read Thai.

For less paint but at the expense of some thought they could have used a universal means of communication.....

I think you have nicely captured the single minded , myopic approach that most Thai's have about care for others... in fact suprised there is not a sign in English next to its saying " Falang feel free to swim"...........