Vendors sneak back on Phuket's beaches

[DrDave]

Do jetskis really need 300 meter wide "gaps" between swimming areas supposedly only for the purpose of entry/exit to the jetski area 400 meters from shore at Patong Beach? 300 meters of beachfront, seriously?

I recall some official recently justifying allowing jetskis on the beach because there is demand for them. Well then, if there is truly demand for them, I doubt that any real demand would decrease if they were moved out of the prime areas of the beach (one of the proposed jetski gaps is right in the middle of the beach, in front of Patong Tower), and relocated to the extreme northern and southern ends of the beach. The last few times I've been to Kata beach, this is how it was organized - jetskis only at the extreme ends of the beach. If there truly is demand for jetskis, then people won't mind walking a few extra minutes to reach them at either end of the beach. If there is resistance to relocating them because the touts would have to prospect for customers far away from the jetskis, then that would indicate that the "demand" cited by officials is being generated by touts, and not the result of people coming to the beach with the intent to rent a jetski.

[arunsakda]

If certain limited beach areas could

be zoned for commercial operations, rules established, bid for by Thai companies and operated under complete transparency, that would be great. That means the individuals or companies who won the bids would be paying leases for the beach use, and would have a legal incentive to operate professionally and responsibly.

However, it cannot work here now because of corruption, which exists simultaneously as the cause and result of all problems. I strongly applaud the actions of our Kingdom's patriotic Military. Until corruption is eliminated total banishment of food/drinks sellers, chair renters and certainly jet ski scammers from public seashores is the only answer, no matter how long it takes.

Edited December 1, 2014 by arunsakda

[JetsetBkk]

"According to their land titles, the land markers are actually in the sea. Before the Asian Tsunami all of the beach front area used to be the owned land; the tsunami turned that land into beach," Gov Nisit told The Phuket News.

He's having a laugh, isn't he?

[DLock]

If you really want a beach chair 4 deep, next to a group of smoking Russians 2 feet apart, then head to Paradise beach in Phuket.

It is exactly what you want.

[TallGuyJohninBKK]

Of course, this is still a mainly Thai tourist resort, but I have yet to meet any falang residents or visitors who would like to see the seafront swept clean of vendors and returned some notional "pristine" natural state envisioned by nostalgic middle-aged generals and ThaiVisa posters.

Ohhh yaaah!!!! Every time I've visited the beaches at HH or Cha-Am, I love walking along the waterline and having to sidestep where the beachfront horse-ride vendors have had their animals take pisses or poops along the beach. Even better when the tide comes in and washes the piss and poop out into the sea where people are lounging/swimming. Who wants "pristine" anyway!!!