Jet ski operators back on beaches of Phuket

[IAMSOBAD]

Thailand the new HUB of excuses and cover ups as long as Thais make money and farang keep bringing money. Come on PM/ General I believe in you. Bust some asss.

[catweazle]

We do the Thailand Shuffle... ...one step forward, two steps back!

[EnglishJohn]

“Business operators might move in when we are not checking or not paying full attention"

So that would be all day, every day then ?.

You just know that nothing is going to change in Thailand. In 10 years I predict exactly the same situation. There will be thousands of low-life just waiting for the General to step down so they can get back to business as usual (Mr T being one of them).

[kinmaew]

Wooo Hooo, after the promo video I saw of these totally honest dudes where one imaginary scratch costs you $1000+ I am up for it!! Got a new passport too so they can also sell that. Who else is up for a great Jet Ski holiday in Phuket!!

[davidmann]

crime and gangsters run thailand ,why is this a shock

[ukguyinthai]

Warn everyone its all we can do.The Army has failed,the Mayor is a lier,and the Marines have failed.

Warn everyone not to go there,

[inzman]

The jet ski thugs are even too powerful for the army! I'm not surprised. Couldn't have operated this long without serious protection. Nobody can change Thailand, it's way past hope.

[luckyman]

They have been back since a week after the Army started clearing Phuket's beaches. The first week there was a collission between two jet ski's in which a Chines tourist broke a leg, a week later the parasailers steered wrongly onto the beach and another Chinese tourist fell onto some others who were sitting lavishly on the beach, he broke an arm. Nice going!

It's is stunning news and totally incomprehensible, that these businesses that are responsible for 90% of the scams on Phuket's beaches are allowed back, while honest beach vendors renting out chairs for 100 baht a day and selling cheap Thai food who never cheat any one have been sent away.

[steelepulse]

It makes you wonder why the Army General here that is running the show doesn't make old Phuripat from Marine 5 and the Patong mayor sit down in front of him and watch them point fingers, then declare that the jet skis and parasail clowns all have to go, along with their equipment. Really how hard is it to sit those in charge down and demand them to do their jobs. No jetskis could get on the beach if the mayor asked for help from the Army to not allow them, and Phuripat would also be forced to make these jet ski hoodlums only operate from the water, and only if the tourist could provide a valid thai skippers license.

[fullcave]

They’re back! The “beach clean-up" lasted about a week, and by golly Ms. Mayor didn’t even notice....

[fullcave]

Edited September 24, 2014 by fullcave

[stuarty]

phuripat has to go first. then the jetskis

[MediaWatcher]

steelepulse, on 24 Sept 2014 - 13:38, said:

If I didn't know better, I'd say good old Marine Office 5 loves tea. For the life of me, I can't recall one good thing that has happened under this guy's watch. Why isn't he enforcing the law which requires anyone riding a jet ski to have a Thai marine license ( whatever it's called)? It can't be because of the tea, could it?

These jet ski and parasail hooligans are taking over the beach and don't even dare to put your stuff down where they are operating, or you'll immediately have a problem with a group surrounding you telling you to move if you know what's good for you.

His tea pot needs topping up regularly. And I agree, just what good has he done?

[MediaWatcher]

Arkady, on 24 Sept 2014 - 16:48, said:

But, she explained, activities such as jet-skis and parasailing fall across the lines of responsibility of the Municipality (on the beach) and the Marine department (on the water).

I am sure the mayor is doing her best to keep them off the beach but the Marine Dept is responsible for letting their machines back on the water.

She hasn't done anything to keep them off the beach. If she stopped them using the beach, which she admits the municipality is responsible for, then they can't get to the water. I find is strange she can make such a ridiculous comment...oh wait, she thinks she's talking only to Thais.

[NelsonHubbucks]

too much money in this scam, it will never go away

Exactly..You toucha my business..I <deleted> your face.

[MarkCyr]

Jet skis are back in Patong as before...Russians are now allowed unlimited in/out visas....I guess my early faith in the junta was premature. Same $4it, different shovel.

[sscsamui]

Well it seems that someone is getting there pocket filled to look the other way... Some old crap....

[slygeeza]

not even touched the scammers in Pattaya, and they never will

[Lokie]

The beach sunbeds and masseuse never bothered me on the beach at patong, actually was quite friendly with them, never any issues - just the jetskis, mithering for business and the bloody noise of them, then the half wit para gliders, with the monkey rider up top of the harness, some very dodgy landings most days near the beach goers in the mid section in front of the Police station, I'm in the minority I know but leaving the legalities aside for a moment, get rid of the skis and outboard engines all together and then licence and legalise an appropriate number of sunbeds and other services that tourists would like... Not everyone's idea of paradise is a beach with FA on it... half the peeps moaning about the illegal beach businesses prob hardly go on it lol, is it really better now?

[balo]

As long as they do not scam people , let them stay there.

[LivinginKata]

Inflammatory post removed.

[wabothai]

Photo says all.

[wabothai]

Would love to see world wide ban on the more than bothering, annoying, noisy, stinking machines.

[wabothai]

But i guess that is a stupid remark.

[Cake Monster]

Everything soon back to the status quo

[zaZa9]

"Sakorn Pukham from the Phuket Marine Office said that there is a line of buoys to separate the jet ski and parasailing zone from the swimming zone. “These two activities are nowhere near each other.”

This is NOT correct.

For starters there are NO ropes on any of the beaches on the West Coast during low season. The seas would wash them away if they were not brought in.

On Surin Beach , which I now learn from the recent Consuls meeting with the Governor , jetskis are totally forbidden ( also forbidden on Laem Singh and Bang Tao ) , yet there were two there yesterday , renting amongst swimmers.

As a Consul said , addressing the issue of Insurance and ripoffs - if a car can cost 500,000 baht , and be fully insured and rented at 1000 baht a day , why cant a jetski , costing 150,000 baht , and rented at 1000 baht numerous times a day , be fully insured as well ?

The only shade now available is AGAIN being used for private enterprise on crown land.

And as a Parking Lot , no less.

Last high season , there were 20 jetskis being rented on Surin , admittedly in 2 unroped sections , but one section jammed between 2 swim areas , with idiot young 'French' tourists racing against the ropes from a standing beach start.

Some even crossed the ropes in order to 'overtake' their competitors.

I was unfortunate enough to be swimming along the ropes when this happened.

After this I stopped swimming there.

This is a dangerous , noisy and stinking and polluting activity that needs vastly stronger measures of control if the powers that be are unwilling to ban it...

Compared to beach chairs , this 'service' is a complete shambles...

[inzman]

Can't challenge the jet ski guys. The army tried and failed, they are protected too high up. Best to stay away from the beach and Phuket also.

[spidermike007]

Back? They never left. (Except maybe a couple days in Patong.)

It seems very odd that the NCPO orders to clean up the island and it's reputation did not include, if not specifically then at least generally, jet ski's seeing as they damage the image of Phuket and Thailand, create the most negative comments second perhaps only to tuk tuks and taxis. Since it is illegal to operate a Thai flagged vessel in Thai waters without a Thai captains license, this is a no brainier. They make a small number of people a lot of money in the process. It just makes no sense whatsoever to keep them. The only explanation is they are paying big money to officials and police to continue operating. The NCPO claims to be on a huge anti-corruption drive, but they are missing a big opportunity here. They can start with the Marine Office 5, if only they can catch .Director Phuripat with his foot out of his mouth.

The biggest impediment I see so far, to the NCPO crackdowns, is that there is an initial crackdown, and then no follow up, and no enforcement. So, what is to prevent these knuckleheads from coming back? Certainly not the NCPO, who are fabulously weak on enforcement. Are these guys getting arrested, and going to trial? Has anyone served time in prison yet? Are any massive fines being levied? Are any of the jet skis being confiscated? What exactly is being done, other than a weak crackdown? The army runs the risk of becoming a laughing stock, if they do not have the guts to institute some enforcement. Everyone in Thailand, including the army know that if you crack down, and then show an incapability of following it up with penalties, arrests, and follow up enforcement, nothing will ever change. Nothing. And at that point you are doing nothing other than putting on a show. So, are they serious, or are they just putting on a show?

[NomadJoe]

Back? They never left. (Except maybe a couple days in Patong.)

It seems very odd that the NCPO orders to clean up the island and it's reputation did not include, if not specifically then at least generally, jet ski's seeing as they damage the image of Phuket and Thailand, create the most negative comments second perhaps only to tuk tuks and taxis. Since it is illegal to operate a Thai flagged vessel in Thai waters without a Thai captains license, this is a no brainier. They make a small number of people a lot of money in the process. It just makes no sense whatsoever to keep them. The only explanation is they are paying big money to officials and police to continue operating. The NCPO claims to be on a huge anti-corruption drive, but they are missing a big opportunity here. They can start with the Marine Office 5, if only they can catch .Director Phuripat with his foot out of his mouth.

The biggest impediment I see so far, to the NCPO crackdowns, is that there is an initial crackdown, and then no follow up, and no enforcement. So, what is to prevent these knuckleheads from coming back? Certainly not the NCPO, who are fabulously weak on enforcement. Are these guys getting arrested, and going to trial? Has anyone served time in prison yet? Are any massive fines being levied? Are any of the jet skis being confiscated? What exactly is being done, other than a weak crackdown? The army runs the risk of becoming a laughing stock, if they do not have the guts to institute some enforcement. Everyone in Thailand, including the army know that if you crack down, and then show an incapability of following it up with penalties, arrests, and follow up enforcement, nothing will ever change. Nothing. And at that point you are doing nothing other than putting on a show. So, are they serious, or are they just putting on a show?

Actually, I would say the NCPO are following up on a lot on other issues. Beach chairs, beach encroachment, taxis. I have seen the Army (actually navy sailors and marines but same same) in Patong many times since the coup as recently as a couple days ago. The problem isn't follow up, it's a conscious decision to not address them. It has been said that the jet skis are exempt from this crackdown. If that is the NCPO's position, then the jet skis didn't need to take the 2 or 3 days off they did, and there is nothing to now follow up on. My guess is there was a local decision, interpretation, made to include the jet skis in the NCPO's orders. Somebody told them to leave at some point. That interpretation has apparently changed.

[NomadJoe]

Can't challenge the jet ski guys. The army tried and failed, they are protected too high up. Best to stay away from the beach and Phuket also.

What is higher than the army right now?