Want World Heritage status? Clean your beaches – Phuket Gov

[webfact]

Want World Heritage status? Clean your beaches – Phuket Gov
Nattha Thepbamrung


Santad Panbanpaew, Chief of the Phuket Weather & Radio Station, holds a bag for the Governor to drop garbage into.

PHUKET: -- Phuket Governor Nisit Jansomwang this morning (February 2) visited Karon Beach as part of his series of monthly beach clean-ups. He was joined by a large contingent of volunteers from both private and public sectors.

He said that he would continue cleaning up garbage on beaches for at least 12 months or until local people start to realise their responsibility for keeping beaches garbage-free.

The Governor pointed out that the Natural Resources and Environment Reformation Committee, led by Director Pramote Maiklud, is pushing for the Andaman coastal provinces – including Phuket – to be declared a World Heritage Site.

But, he asked, “If we leave our beaches – the most outstanding natural treasure of the island – dirty, how can our island become a World Heritage Site?”

He had parise for the local authorities responsible for Karon Beach. “I have to say that Karon Municipality has good management. Karon Beach is very long but we could find little garbage comparing with previous beaches we visited.”

The Governor previously joined clean-ups of Kamala, Patong and Saphan Hin Beaches, and along Klong Tha Cheen.

“The monthly beach cleaning is planned to continue for 12 months. I will quit this monthly routine whenever the beaches are clean and people understand and recognise the importance of keeping them clean.” During the walk along the beach for garbage collecting, he and his party were approached by tourists complaining about the lack of beach umbrellas, allowing the team the chance to explain the new rules.

“We understand that there are several different points of view, from people who want the beaches to be completely clear, to beach business operators and tourists who have a different view.

“We are trying our best to have them meet in the middle. But rules are rules. We have an official agreement and everyone must follow it.

“There are still people putting umbrella outside the 10 per cent special zone. It is not easy to make all the tourists understand, especially people with other languages.

“However, we are creating signs in Thai, English, Chinese and Russian as a priority. We have to gradually inform people.”

He added that he chose to go to Karon today after receiving a report that some beach umbrella operators are still blocking out space for business use. He said he explained the rules to them and warned them not to do it again.

Source: http://www.thephuketnews.com/want-world-heritage-status-clean-your-beaches-phuket-gov-50850.php


-- Phuket News 2015-02-03

[rasmus5150]

Besides fewer umbrellas, does anybody actually notice a difference in cleanliness on the beach?

[canuckamuck]

Clean the beaches - you think it might have been obvious 20 years ago. But better late than never.

[steelepulse]

This topic has been beat to death. Until the local authorities decide that spending money on cleaners will result in their pockets being fuller ( think trickle down effect) the local authorities will come up with excuses as to why they don't have full time cleaners keeping their most valuable asset clean. Public facilities at all beaches would also be a great leap forward for a (supposedly) world class destination.

>>He said he explained the rules to them and warned them not to do it again.

How about a nice 10,000 baht fine the first time and not allowed to conduct business if caught again?

[Bogan Koori]

Apparently the tourists are telling some farangs tour operators, that the beaches are beautiful and trash free

Edited February 3, 2015 by Bogan Koori

[NamKangMan]

This topic has been beat to death. Until the local authorities decide that spending money on cleaners will result in their pockets being fuller ( think trickle down effect) the local authorities will come up with excuses as to why they don't have full time cleaners keeping their most valuable asset clean. Public facilities at all beaches would also be a great leap forward for a (supposedly) world class destination.

>>He said he explained the rules to them and warned them not to do it again.

How about a nice 10,000 baht fine the first time and not allowed to conduct business if caught again?

" ( think trickle down effect) " - unfortunately, they are only interested in the "trickle up effect" here.

[NamKangMan]

Apparently the tourists are telling some farangs tour operators, that the beaches are beautiful and trash free

They must be Indian tourists comparing the beaches to The Ganges.

[madmitch]

If they insist on umbrellas, including personal umbrellas, being confined to a crowded zone, then many tourists will simply pack up, go home, never to return. I went to Karon Beach yesterday and saw one of the umbrella zones, right at the back of the beach with a few rented mats and umbrellas in use. I also saw plenty of personal umbrellas on the beach. They did not detract from the beauty of the beach one iota, if anything a smattering of umbrellas add something, but not the banks of umbrellas they had before and seem to want again. Jet-skis took the prime location of course!

[Oziex1]

No mention of the black filth from the polluted klong flowing in at certain times of year!

[Sviss Geez]

No mention of the black filth from the polluted klong flowing in at certain times of year!

"No mention of the black filth from the polluted klong..."

Interesting to know that that is not just confined to the Sukhumvit Soi 13 area of Bangkok.

[Phuketboy]

The beaches and other public areas would be much cleaner if they actually had bins to put rubbish in.

[sunshine51]

To rank Phuket along with the Piramids of Egypt, Angkor Wat, the Great Wall...et al...see below...

http://whc.unesco.org/en/list

Is akin to a tasteless joke.

[Nemesis7]

Did I read it right? World Hermitage status for a beach???

[Gonsalviz]

I witnessed a Thai woman at Jomtien doing the Thai version of cleaning the beach. Plastic and debris floating everywhere and she was wearing herself out trying to throw a coconut back out to sea. As if.