Hua Hin authorities fix food stall prices

[webfact]

Hua Hin Authorities Fix Food Stall Prices
By Khaosod English


Officials dismantle a food stall on Hua Hin beach that was encroaching on public land, 13 August 2014.

PRACHUAP KIRI KHAN — Officials and beach vendors in the resort town of Hua Hin have agreed to fix the price of food sold from stalls along the popular beach, following a wave of complaints from tourists about the vendors' "extortionate" prices.

According to photos of the bills posted on social media earlier this week, beach-goers were charged anywhere from 150 to 400 baht for staple Thai dishes, like som tum and pork fried rice. The standard market price of those dishes ranges from 30 to 40 baht.

At a meeting with local officials held today, the vendors agreed to new fixed prices that will be applied to all food stalls in the area. Under the new regulation, a dish of som tum will cost 45 baht, pork soup 80 baht, and a bottle of beer 80 baht, for instance.

Suphadee Karaked, a representative of the Department of Internal Trade, said that although all of the vendors included the price of food in their menus, some of them did not do so in a clear way.Thus, officials asked the vendors to post large signs of their menus at the entrance to their stalls, Ms. Suphadee said.

"I believe this method will regain confidence from consumers and tourists. They will return to Hua Hin," Ms. Suphadee said. "It can also help regain the image of Hua Hin as the number one resort town of Thailand."

Many of the food vendors are also guilty of encroaching on public land, as their stalls are sitting on the beach, said Hua Hin's District Chief Officer Pornchai Thomkrachang. The authorities will move to evict all stalls that are currently encroaching the public land, Mr Pornchai said.

However, Mr. Pornchai added that authorities also struck a compromise with the vendors. According to Mr. Pornchai, the vendors are welcome to return to the beach on 18 August after the eviction and cleaning operation is completed, but they will have to strictly adhere to new regulations that only allow non-permanent structures on the beach.

Each stall will also be limited to certain area by the local officials in order to avoid congestion on the beach, Mr. Pornchai said.

"On every Wednesday all stalls must also close down for cleaning and returning nature to the beach," Mr. Pornchai explained.

The vendors accepted the compromise, Chongkolnee Rittirong, a representative of the vendors, told Khaosod.

"The solution that was discussed today is acceptable. We may have to adjust ourselves, but we can keep our jobs and look after our families," Ms. Chongkolnee said. "The regulation of Hua Hin Beach should help improve everything now."

Ms. Chongkolnee added that all vendors will adhere to the new prices pegged by the officials. As for dishes that are not listed in the regulation, the vendors will submit prices to the officials for approval.

Source: http://en.khaosod.co.th/detail.php?newsid=1408022691&typecate=06&section=

[khaosod]2014-08-15[/khaosod]

[sirocco]

HELLO,

 

If this can ease tensions and avoid wild excesses found throughout the range, the better. 

Remains to be seen whether individuals with beach houses will be held in the new movement citizenship. 

[Crazy chef 1]

well done. the junta gets things done what none of the previous governments were able to enforce.

[Friendly Stranger]

.

Edited August 15, 2014 by Friendly Stranger

[gamini]

The vendors will reduce the size of the helpings and use cheaper ingredients. This what happened in Singpore when they tried to control prices

[sirocco]

Les vendeurs vont réduire la taille des portions et utiliser des ingrédients moins chers. Ce qui s'est passé en Singpore quand ils ont essayé de contrôler les prix

 

 

true, gamini!   

[NeilSA1]

The vendors will reduce the size of the helpings and use cheaper ingredients. This what happened in Singpore when they tried to control prices

 

Most probably - but customers will hopefully follow the crowds and support the better vendors.

[Lite Beer]

Hua Hin beach foods now more reasonable after cleanup operations

 

Hua Hin beach foods now more reasonable after cleanup operationsHua Hin beach foods now more reasonable after cleanup operations

Soldiers and local administration officials have started to evict food stalls on Hua Hin beach under a reorganization plan to beautify the beach, to make food prices reasonable, and to prevent profiteering.

 

The cleanup operation was launched in line with the policy of the National Council for Peace and Order to return the beach to the people, and also in response to complaints by tourists that food vendors on the beach overcharging tourists which has tarnished the image of this old and famous beach resort.

Apart from evicting stalls of defiant vendors, local authorities have also distributed to them new price list of meals that food vendors on the beach must strictly abide by.

The price list is more reasonable that tourists can accept, and food vendors still can make profit.

The price list is worked out after a meeting between local authorities and food vendors after many tourists filed complaint with the Hua Hin police accusing some food vendors of overcharging food prices.

All vendors agreed to start using the price list of new menus Friday.

According to authorities, these menus will be used temporarily for three days then a new set of menus will later be distributed to food vendors for permanent use.

Chief of Hua Hin tourist police Pol.Col Sataporn Sa-nguansuk said food vendors were much relieved after authorities implemented the program in a bid to promote a good image for Hua Hin.

Most of the vendors at beachfront areas said large number of tourists have asked them whether food prices have been lowered.

They believed that customers would definitely order more dishes if food are offered at cheaper prices.

One food vendor Mrs Woravan Pan-nguleam said she was happy with the clean-up operation as it would help restore good image for Hua Hin.

Another food vendor said after the new price list was displayed, customers ordered various dishes which included two dishes of grilled squids, fried rice and mussels. They said the prices were reasonable and were happy with the adjustment.

Meanwhile authorities said they will begin demolishing stalls on a long stretch of Hua Hin beach on August 18 as part of the effort to reclaim public space back from vendor who have encroached the beach illegally for over a decade.

 

Source: http://englishnews.thaipbs.or.th/hua-hin-beach-foods-now-reasonable-cleanup-operations/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=hua-hin-beach-foods-now-reasonable-cleanup-operations

 

[thaipbs]2014-08-15[/thaipbs]

[Crazy chef 1]

and now Cha Am please.

[TVGerry]

I'm really loving how fast the NCPO acts. It says it will do something and then it does it.

[USNret]

The vendors will reduce the size of the helpings and use cheaper ingredients. This what happened in Singpore when they tried to control prices

 

So you figure those charging 10x the market rate were giving you a serving 10x larger, or 10x higher quality?  I'd rather buy 2 portions for 40 baht each than forced to pay outrageous prices.

[ajarnmarc]

What amazes me, is that tourist would want to buy from food stalls on the beach...

There are plenty of Resorts along the beach, which people who find themselves hungry;

can order clean food from, 

and even with the Resorts service charge,

the prices are in some cases lower or the same than what people are paying the food stalls encroaching upon the beach that's supposed to be there for people to enjoy and relax on.

 

They will natrually try to convince everyone that things will change,

and on the surface perhaps they will but behind the scenes they will still be over charging when and where they can squeeze,

not to mention the sanitation conditions will never come close to the Resorts,

or Restaurants throughout town.

 

At the end of the day, they wouldn't be there; 

if people didn't buy the junk/stuff they sell.

So the tourist have themselves to blame for the greed they seem happy to feed upon.

 

While ignoring all the honest,

well established businesses set up for a proper dining experience.

 

Amazing...

 

[Nuddy]

In the photo with the three Officers standing under the umbrella with the couple at the table, isn't that the beach there?

If it had been cleaned up the umbrellas and the tables wouldn't be on the beach.

Maybe this is a photo before it was cleaned up.

 

[ttthailand]

So nothing has changed except the old buildings are replaced with new structures and the officials can still collect there payoff every month for letting the venders back on the beach..... Hahaha...
Sounds like business as usual .

[Benmart]

The vendors will reduce the size of the helpings and use cheaper ingredients. This what happened in Singpore when they tried to control prices

Then the customer can opt to move to another vendor. I prefer not to attempt to look into the future or what Singapore has done.

Choice is a wonderful thing.

[Benmart]

So nothing has changed except the old buildings are replaced with new structures and the officials can still collect there payoff every month for letting the venders back on the beach..... Hahaha...
Sounds like business as usual .

Please provide some sort of supporting evidence for something that has not yet taken place. Then I may join in the laughter.

[Benmart]

What amazes me, is that tourist would want to buy from food stalls on the beach...
There are plenty of Resorts along the beach, which people who find themselves hungry;
can order clean food from, 
and even with the Resorts service charge,
the prices are in some cases lower or the same than what people are paying the food stalls encroaching upon the beach that's supposed to be there for people to enjoy and relax on.
 
They will natrually try to convince everyone that things will change,
and on the surface perhaps they will but behind the scenes they will still be over charging when and where they can squeeze,
not to mention the sanitation conditions will never come close to the Resorts,
or Restaurants throughout town.
 
At the end of the day, they wouldn't be there; 
if people didn't buy the junk/stuff they sell.
So the tourist have themselves to blame for the greed they seem happy to feed upon.
 
While ignoring all the honest,
well established businesses set up for a proper dining experience.
 
Amazing...
 

Not all tourist are greedy.
Not all vendors are greedy.
Not all resort restaurants are bargains.
Not all posts are amazing.

I don't know everything. I just live here.

Choice is a wonderful thing.

[mok199]

you never want to pissoff the chief..

[belg]

if any restaurant does not show prices, time to get up and leave

[strabel23]

In the photo with the three Officers standing under the umbrella with the couple at the table, isn't that the beach there?

If it had been cleaned up the umbrellas and the tables wouldn't be on the beach.

Maybe this is a photo before it was cleaned up.

Quote from post with the 2 Officers standing under the umbrella with the couple at the table...." Soldiers and local administration officials have started to evict food stalls on Hua Hin beach "

 

Obviously Nuddy you are only looking at the pictures and you can't take the time to read the post?.

 

Amazing perception and analogy.