Vendors begin to move off Phuket's Patong Beach
Alasdair Forbes


A small truck is loaded with beach chairs. Photo Amy Bensema

PHUKET: -- Beach-and-umbrella operators (July 8) began clearing their businesses off Patong Beach, the last place holding out against the Royal Thai Army’s campaign to reclaim the sands for the public.

Truckload after truckload of beach chairs, umbrellas and the bones of makeshift bars, massage salas and little eateries were seen trundling through the town.

Patong Mayor Chalermluck Kebsap told The Phuket News this evening that Municipal officials had been going along the beach telling the local business people to take their gear away or face a tough time at the hands of a task force backed by heavily armed Navy Marines, due to visit the beach tomorrow.

“We have wanted to do this for a long time,” she added, “but until now it was impossible. Now it can be done.”

All along the coast beaches have been cleared, the most high profile action being on Surin Beach. Areas in the shade are now available for tourists who have had enough sun, instead of being occupied by umbrella renters.

Tourists appear to like the new arrangements well enough, though it does mean they now have to walk to the area behind the beach to buy food or refreshments, rather than have them delivered.

But now everyone can see the ocean at last.

Source: http://www.thephuketnews.com/vendors-begin-to-move-off-phukets-patong-beach-47260.php


-- Phuket News 2014-07-09

only taken 30 years...i guarentee they will be back.......................... (AFTER LOW SEASON HAS FINNISHED )

every little helps

Still, its a wonderful thing. I have seen these operators chase farang tourists away for even attempting to sit on their towel in the sand. And these beach rats loved to play soccer all over the beach with a purposeful disregard bordering on outright aggression towards everyone else using the beach.

Not to mention the the 50-60 jetskis beached right at waters edge that one had to navigate around simply to walk the beach.

Good job...again !

A stupid move by the government. The tourist should be able to relax and have food delivered, get a massage on the beach, have chairs and umbrellas available for use. But it should be regulated. Rent should be charge for use. number of sellers reduced and the price of chairs and umbrellas set so tourist are not overcharged.

A stupid move by the government. The tourist should be able to relax and have food delivered, get a massage on the beach, have chairs and umbrellas available for use. But it should be regulated. Rent should be charge for use. number of sellers reduced and the price of chairs and umbrellas set so tourist are not overcharged.

Amazed nobody thought to ask you.

The Junta has been taking action brilliantly and there is nothing to say such a permit system is not going to occur...but the first step is to take control of the situation and let these beach rats know who the boss is.

Thousands of people visit Aus every year, no loungers etc.... no worries.

Jetski's still there?

The scum sunbed vendors who think they own the beach , taking every area of shade . Need to keep this up throughout the year

Sent from my iPhone using Thaivisa Connect Thailand mobile app

Jetski's still there?

I was thinking the same thing. I guess they are all licensed to operate the jet ski scam.

A stupid move by the government. The tourist should be able to relax and have food delivered, get a massage on the beach, have chairs and umbrellas available for use. But it should be regulated. Rent should be charge for use. number of sellers reduced and the price of chairs and umbrellas set so tourist are not overcharged.

There will be regulation and a new system set up. The removal of all mafia styled occupation of public land will cease first.

I don't think any permit schemes are coming why would there be, just another opportunity for scam and corruption. Leave the beaches clean of the riff raff operators forever.

Where I have been sitting for more than 15 years (in front of the tourist police office and immigration office) the operators certainly are not "mafia'; they don't interfere with people who want to sit on their towels. They are perfectly nice people.

The idea that the existence of lounge chairs and umbrellas prevents the public from seeing the beach is ludicrous.

It is certainly necessary for people to be able to have beach umbrellas as Thailand is a tropical country and there is a need for sun protection. There is no evidence that the existence of lounge chairs and umbrellas harms the ecology of the beach.

A stupid move by the government. The tourist should be able to relax and have food delivered, get a massage on the beach, have chairs and umbrellas available for use. But it should be regulated. Rent should be charge for use. number of sellers reduced and the price of chairs and umbrellas set so tourist are not overcharged.

And what happens each and everytimes something should be regulated? Someone gets a bribe and regulation stops. There are plenty of beaches in Thailand where the tourists and locals are simply sitting on a towel or similar in the sand, and it seems to work quite well.

Marines descend on Phuket's Patong Beach to enforce clean-up
Tanyaluk Sakoot


Mayor Chalermluk Kebsap is escorted by Navy Marines on Patong Beach.

PHUKET: -- Navy Marines this morning escorted officials along Patong Beach enforcing the clean-up of the sands.

Although some of the people doing business along the sand, particularly beach lounger and umbrella renters, moved out yesterday, other more solid bar, food joints and massage salas remained this morning, but even they were being dismantled.

Walking with the Marines was Patong Mayor Chalermluck Kebsap, who told The Phuket News yesterday, “We have wanted to do this for a long time,” she added, “but until now it was impossible. Now it can be done.”

Source: http://www.thephuketnews.com/marines-descend-on-phukets-patong-beach-to-enforce-clean-up-47266.php


-- Phuket News 2014-07-09

Jetski's still there?

I was thinking the same thing. I guess they are all licensed to operate the jet ski scam.

I just can't see them stay when everybody else has gone.

anybody heared if the same will happen in hua hin ?

This is a huge mistake. I know 100s of people who come to Patong every year for 3 weeks to 3 months (or more). Maybe they can live without the chairs (although I doubt it) but they absolutely need umbrellas.

The lounge and umbrella vendors clean the beach (yes they do). Who will do that now?

has not done any harm to Chewang beach ...hotels have a few chairs but very few, most people just take a towel to the beach ...you know like the old days

Is heavily armed marines strolling down the beach at one of Thailand's most visited tourist destinations the image it wants to convey to prospective tourists?

anybody heared if the same will happen in hua hin ?

Hope they get rid of the horses.

Last time I was there it seemed so out of place, <deleted> on horses galloping up the beach.

Is heavily armed marines strolling down the beach at one of Thailand's most visited tourist destinations the image it wants to convey to prospective tourists?

No, it's the image they want to stick in the minds of the locals who have taken over public lands for their own profit!

Is heavily armed marines strolling down the beach at one of Thailand's most visited tourist destinations the image it wants to convey to prospective tourists?

These are the good guys.

The image of corrupt and aggressive vendors is fading fast because of these guys.

Is the Jet-Ski in that photo coming or going?

Mr Sayan {Kathu District Chief} explained they were merely following orders.

"We are here for beach management, as we were ordered by the National Council for Peace and Order [NCPO] to re-establish order on the beaches," Mr Sayan said.

"We are not stopping you from earning a living. After this, Patong Municipality will be able to implement new plans for how the beach will be managed and how you can earn a living."

****************

This is from Phuket gazette today.

We all need to know what these plans are and we need to know very soon.

Mr Sayan {Kathu District Chief} explained they were merely following orders.

"We are here for beach management, as we were ordered by the National Council for Peace and Order [NCPO] to re-establish order on the beaches," Mr Sayan said.

"We are not stopping you from earning a living. After this, Patong Municipality will be able to implement new plans for how the beach will be managed and how you can earn a living."

****************

This is from Phuket gazette today.

We all need to know what these plans are and we need to know very soon.

They can earn a living by picking up trash, helping to build some public restrooms on the beach which are sorely needed, and they can pay taxes on all of their illegal gotten gains to pay for the restrooms and lifeguards salaries. Simple really.

"We are not stopping you from earning a living. After this, Patong Municipality will be able to implement new plans for how the beach will be managed and how you can earn a living."

--

The easiest way to manage the beach IMHO, is to clear it all. Every chair, umbrella, food vendor, drink vendor, every hut, and jet ski. All of it, everything, and keep it that way.

Is the Jet-Ski in that photo coming or going?

Have'nt noticed anyone 'game' enough to take on the Jet Ski boys, especially that aggressive little prat at Patong, who likes to carry a rifle and invite any complaining tourist to fight him.

I took the photo, originally posted with The Phuket News article, yesterday afternoon. At that time, many of the beach chair vendors and the jet ski gang were clearing their property from the beach. This morning, I also watched as the soldiers descended on the beach and told those who remained to clear their items. Currently, there are no jet skis in sight on Patong Beach.