Rental Umbrellas and Foam Mats back on Kata Beach

[LivinginKata]

I could not help but notice the influx of the old rental umbrellas and mats from the chairs being brought in on fully loaded pick-ups this morning at Kata Beach. What's going on. Business as usual, but must take away at night fall ?

[steelepulse]

Which "10%" of the beach were they setting up at?

[AllThaiedUp]

Hopefully to stay and hopefully soon at Patong Beach too...currently in Bangkok and want to go to Phuket but I like and need the beach chairs and umbrellas .... and the beer vendors too !! It's the only reason that I'm contemplating on going..

Have been to most of the beach areas in Thailand before and the only thing that set Phuket apart for me was the beach chairs and umbrellas and being able to get a beer or food right on the beach

[eezergood]

The police where clearing at patong beach again this morning, however they seemed quite content to let bikes and trucks speed up and down the area designated for pedestrians

[hansgruber]

This place makes me laugh. So much bumbling and indecision over something so simple to police.

When will Phuket grow up? They aspire to be the next Singapore and have grand visions but it's never going to happen. Too uneducated and corruptible.

[stevenl]

This place makes me laugh. So much bumbling and indecision over something so simple to police.

When will Phuket grow up? They aspire to be the next Singapore and have grand visions but it's never going to happen. Too uneducated and corruptible.

I really hope that is never going to happen, the next Singapore.

I really don't like that city/state, too policed to my liking.

[hansgruber]

This place makes me laugh. So much bumbling and indecision over something so simple to police.

When will Phuket grow up? They aspire to be the next Singapore and have grand visions but it's never going to happen. Too uneducated and corruptible.

I really hope that is never going to happen, the next Singapore.

I really don't like that city/state, too policed to my liking.

That's what Thais want Phuket to be.

The only part of Singapore I want for Phuket is the infrastructure, taxis and buses.

Maybe a casino.

[LivinginKata]

That's what Thais want Phuket to be.

The only part of Singapore I want for Phuket is the infrastructure, taxis and buses.

Maybe a casino.

Thais like the idea of Singapore's (veneer of) prosperity, but would never dream of complying with the bureaucratic over-reach. Much that I like about Singapore, gave it a shot at living/working there in the late 80s. I guess the cost of living there drove me away.

Wife and I enjoy our regular visits to Singapore. An enjoyable break from the chaos and smells of Thailand.

[KamalaRider]

This place makes me laugh. So much bumbling and indecision over something so simple to police.

When will Phuket grow up? They aspire to be the next Singapore and have grand visions but it's never going to happen. Too uneducated and corruptible.

The only thing Phuket aspire to, is to grow, physically in size, so it will be bigger than SG.

I'm in IT and I have been waiting soon 9 years for Phuket to become the IT hub of asia the authorities claimed Phuket to be, still waiting.

Better to seal Phuket off and start with Casino as some former PM expressed at one point.

[NamKangMan]

This place makes me laugh. So much bumbling and indecision over something so simple to police.

When will Phuket grow up? They aspire to be the next Singapore and have grand visions but it's never going to happen. Too uneducated and corruptible.

I really hope that is never going to happen, the next Singapore.

I really don't like that city/state, too policed to my liking.

That's what Thais want Phuket to be.

The only part of Singapore I want for Phuket is the infrastructure, taxis and buses.

Maybe a casino.

"The only part of Singapore I want for Phuket is the infrastructure, taxis and buses." - and why shouldn't we have it here?

Phuket is a wealthy province - it turns a quid.

The cost of living is generally higher on Phuket, than most of Thailand, yet, the infastructure is poorer.

I wouldn't want Phuket to be as "westernized" as Singapore, but it really should have the infastructure and services that other locations in Thailand enjoy.

Nothing more, but why so much less?

Edited January 31, 2015 by NamKangMan

[Bogan Koori]

This place makes me laugh. So much bumbling and indecision over something so simple to police.

When will Phuket grow up? They aspire to be the next Singapore and have grand visions but it's never going to happen. Too uneducated and corruptible.

I really hope that is never going to happen, the next Singapore.

I really don't like that city/state, too policed to my liking.

That's what Thais want Phuket to be.

The only part of Singapore I want for Phuket is the infrastructure, taxis and buses.

Maybe a casino.

"The only part of Singapore I want for Phuket is the infrastructure, taxis and buses." - and why shouldn't we have it here?

Phuket is a wealthy province - it turns a quid.

The cost of living is generally higher on Phuket, than most of Thailand, yet, the infastructure is poorer.

I wouldn't want Phuket to be as "westernized" as Singapore, but it really should have the infastructure and services that other locations in Thailand enjoy.

Nothing more, but why so much less?

The distribution of funding for infastructure is based on population. Unfortunately all the workers from Isaan don't register when they move which is why Isaan has huge wide, well maintained empty roads. And the tourist areas get neglected.

[steelepulse]

Back on topic, I counted maybe 15 rental umbrellas on the beach yesterday, so almost as if they weren't there.

[stevenl]

Nai Harn is full with private umbrella's, nearly everybody brought his own. Did not see any rental umbrellas and mats, and surprisingly also nearly no hawkers. No zoning.

[beechbum]

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Nai Harn is full with private umbrella's, nearly everybody brought his own. Did not see any rental umbrellas and mats, and surprisingly also nearly no hawkers. No zoning.

There's a hawker at Nai Harn that sells goods on the sly, keeps his stash in a black toyota prerunner(or whatever there called), parks it on the north side of the inlet car park, has a few runners working with him.

[hansgruber]

Most tourists want the umbrellas and beds back.

People whine about thais not listening to tourists but the tourists want these back and the Thai's are listening.

[stevenl]

Most tourists want the umbrellas and beds back.

People whine about thais not listening to tourists but the tourists want these back and the Thai's are listening.

Those are the tourists that are here, partly because of the beds. But if Phuket wants to attract a different type of tourist, it may be good to stick to the policy and not allow the sunbeds back.

[hansgruber]

Most tourists want the umbrellas and beds back.

People whine about thais not listening to tourists but the tourists want these back and the Thai's are listening.

Those are the tourists that are here, partly because of the beds. But if Phuket wants to attract a different type of tourist, it may be good to stick to the policy and not allow the sunbeds back.

Scandinavians like the umbrellas and beds. They don't last 30 mins with their fair skin.

The Europeans aka the Italians all complaining it's too hot now to lay about the beach all day.

Chinese don't care for the beach all that much unless it's for Facebook selfies.

Phuket has other issues to sort out before worrying about umbrellas.

Fix the scams, transport issues and that alone will bring a majority back.

Umbrellas and chairs littering the sands aren't the reason for the downturn.

[stevenl]

Most tourists want the umbrellas and beds back.

People whine about thais not listening to tourists but the tourists want these back and the Thai's are listening.

Those are the tourists that are here, partly because of the beds. But if Phuket wants to attract a different type of tourist, it may be good to stick to the policy and not allow the sunbeds back.

Scandinavians like the umbrellas and beds. They don't last 30 mins with their fair skin.

The Europeans aka the Italians all complaining it's too hot now to lay about the beach all day.

Chinese don't care for the beach all that much unless it's for Facebook selfies.

Phuket has other issues to sort out before worrying about umbrellas.

Fix the scams, transport issues and that alone will bring a majority back.

Umbrellas and chairs littering the sands aren't the reason for the downturn.

All your points are about the umbrella's, which are present at the beaches in abundance.

[hansgruber]

Most tourists want the umbrellas and beds back.

People whine about thais not listening to tourists but the tourists want these back and the Thai's are listening.

Those are the tourists that are here, partly because of the beds. But if Phuket wants to attract a different type of tourist, it may be good to stick to the policy and not allow the sunbeds back.

Scandinavians like the umbrellas and beds. They don't last 30 mins with their fair skin.

The Europeans aka the Italians all complaining it's too hot now to lay about the beach all day.

Chinese don't care for the beach all that much unless it's for Facebook selfies.

Phuket has other issues to sort out before worrying about umbrellas.

Fix the scams, transport issues and that alone will bring a majority back.

Umbrellas and chairs littering the sands aren't the reason for the downturn.

All your points are about the umbrella's, which are present at the beaches in abundance.

Yes. I'm all for them and the beach chairs with regulation but that's wishful thinking.

Having them is good but not row after row down to the waters edge which will just happen all over again because of the lack of regulation and law enforcement.

Vicious cycle of greed.

[steelepulse]

Let the punters (tourists) buy their own and then sit wherever they want, kind of like what's been happening for the last few months. Any whining tourists from overseas will quickly see upon arrival to the beach, that they can purchase their own shade.

[surangw]

maybe the will issue "stickers" for the umbrellas to make it official

[eezergood]

Yes. I'm all for them and the beach chairs with regulation but that's wishful thinking.

Having them is good but not row after row down to the waters edge which will just happen all over again because of the lack of regulation and law enforcement.

Vicious cycle of greed.

Agreed but totally unmanageable, the greed that controls these people is toxic

[NamKangMan]

Most tourists want the umbrellas and beds back.

People whine about thais not listening to tourists but the tourists want these back and the Thai's are listening.

Many tourists do want the beds and umbrellas back. Trouble is, the operators telling other tourists they can't lay a towell down and must rent a bed.

The operators can't be trusted NOT to threaten, or scam, tourists who do not want a bed.

Another problem is, they take up most of the sand in the good sections of the beach, therefore, those who do not want a bed are locked out of that section of beach.

History shows, regulation does not work, due to corruption.

Better to have none, than the problems we had before.

[NamKangMan]

Most tourists want the umbrellas and beds back.

People whine about thais not listening to tourists but the tourists want these back and the Thai's are listening.

Those are the tourists that are here, partly because of the beds. But if Phuket wants to attract a different type of tourist, it may be good to stick to the policy and not allow the sunbeds back.

Scandinavians like the umbrellas and beds. They don't last 30 mins with their fair skin.

The Europeans aka the Italians all complaining it's too hot now to lay about the beach all day.

Chinese don't care for the beach all that much unless it's for Facebook selfies.

Phuket has other issues to sort out before worrying about umbrellas.

Fix the scams, transport issues and that alone will bring a majority back.

Umbrellas and chairs littering the sands aren't the reason for the downturn.

"Fix the scams, transport issues and that alone will bring a majority back." - I agree.

Many of my friends that used to holiday on Phuket, now go to Pattaya.

Main reason - restricted freedom of movement on Phuket, due to the pathetic transport system here.

They all agree Phuket is nicer, and would return if transport alone was just fixed up.

"Umbrellas and chairs littering the sands aren't the reason for the downturn." - I also agree.

Phuket no longer represents a value for money holiday. The infastructure and services here are not on par with their costs.

"Phuket" - as a brand, is losing market share, rapidly.

Edited February 2, 2015 by NamKangMan

[madmitch]

Most tourists want the umbrellas and beds back.

People whine about thais not listening to tourists but the tourists want these back and the Thai's are listening.

Those are the tourists that are here, partly because of the beds. But if Phuket wants to attract a different type of tourist, it may be good to stick to the policy and not allow the sunbeds back.

Scandinavians like the umbrellas and beds. They don't last 30 mins with their fair skin.

The Europeans aka the Italians all complaining it's too hot now to lay about the beach all day.

Chinese don't care for the beach all that much unless it's for Facebook selfies.

Phuket has other issues to sort out before worrying about umbrellas.

Fix the scams, transport issues and that alone will bring a majority back.

Umbrellas and chairs littering the sands aren't the reason for the downturn.

"Fix the scams, transport issues and that alone will bring a majority back." - I agree.

Many of my friends that used to holiday on Phuket, now go to Pattaya.

Main reason - restricted freedom of movement on Phuket, due to the pathetic transport system here.

They all agree Phuket is nicer, and would return if transport alone was just fixed up.

"Umbrellas and chairs littering the sands aren't the reason for the downturn." - I also agree.

Phuket no longer represents a value for money holiday. The infastructure and services here are not on par with their costs.

"Phuket" - as a brand, is losing market share, rapidly.

They're all contributing factors to the general downturn in popularity of Phuket as a holiday destination. There are many other factors, often discussed so I won't waste time repeating them.

I'll have a walk down to Karon Beach later and see what's going on.

[maidee]

you must love to rent one of those sweat / bacteria ridden old matts

[pcliff069]

perhaps they could bring them back to cover up some of the filth and garbage on the beaches - and maybe even get the vendors to do a little bit of maintenance at Naiharn beach.

[pcliff069]

Most tourists want the umbrellas and beds back.

People whine about thais not listening to tourists but the tourists want these back and the Thai's are listening.

Those are the tourists that are here, partly because of the beds. But if Phuket wants to attract a different type of tourist, it may be good to stick to the policy and not allow the sunbeds back.

Scandinavians like the umbrellas and beds. They don't last 30 mins with their fair skin.

The Europeans aka the Italians all complaining it's too hot now to lay about the beach all day.

Chinese don't care for the beach all that much unless it's for Facebook selfies.

Phuket has other issues to sort out before worrying about umbrellas.

Fix the scams, transport issues and that alone will bring a majority back.

Umbrellas and chairs littering the sands aren't the reason for the downturn.

"Fix the scams, transport issues and that alone will bring a majority back." - I agree.

Many of my friends that used to holiday on Phuket, now go to Pattaya.

Main reason - restricted freedom of movement on Phuket, due to the pathetic transport system here.

They all agree Phuket is nicer, and would return if transport alone was just fixed up.

"Umbrellas and chairs littering the sands aren't the reason for the downturn." - I also agree.

Phuket no longer represents a value for money holiday. The infastructure and services here are not on par with their costs.

"Phuket" - as a brand, is losing market share, rapidly.

i'll be voting with my feet - almost 18 months on Phuket and we'll be off - and certainly not to that shithole pattaya

[beechbum]

^^Where to?

[pcliff069]

^^Where to?

probably a bit harsh on Pattaya there - I do have some good friends in Pattaya but the ones who aren't are the problem.

Either Hua Hin or Krabi - with Hua Hin favourite -