Bangkok broadcaster closes off Phuket beach access, charges ‘entry fee’

[webfact]

Bangkok broadcaster closes off Phuket beach access, charges ‘entry fee’
Eakkapop Thongtub


While BBTV starts charging entry fees to access Laem Singh Beach, sunloungers on the sand can easily be seen from the road. Photo: Eakkapop Thongtub

PHUKET: -- Bangkok Broadcasting & TV Co Ltd (BBTV), the company that broadcasts Thai TV Channel 7, has privatised access to Laem Singh Beach and is now charging B100 per person to cross beachfront land that the company claims to own.

Access across the land is open from 7am to 7pm, effective Friday (July 1), the company announced with a large sign recently posted at the site.

The sign notes that BBTV claims the land in question through “land deed nos. 6868, 6869, 7828 and 7829”, and is a plaintiff in “the court case red no 1153/2558, 1157/2558-1165/2558 and 1240/2558”.

“Shopowners” named in the “above court cases” will be provided identification to present to security guards who will patrol the area and collect fees from people wanting to cross the land, the sign announced.

Conflict over access to Laem Singh Beach came to a head in 2012, when local residents and “shopowners” protested a corrugated fence installed around the land.

Full story: http://www.thephuketnews.com/bangkok-broadcaster-closes-off-phuket-beach-access-charges-entry-fee-58106.php

-- Phuket News 2016-07-04

[Alive]

All for the rich.

[madmitch]

So, the ownership of the land is "under dispute" yet still they charge a fee to cross the piece of land in question?

I assume if they are found not to be the owners that all those who have paid a fee will be forming an orderly queue to claim their money back!

[waldroj]

The beach is "free", you just have to pay 20 baht to "access" it down sloping paths through "private" land (http://www.360cities.net/es/image/26-laem-singh-beach-access).

The following links highlight the issue!

"...Even the additional of a 20 baht per person fee to access the beach has not dampened its popularity..." (http://www.phuket.com/island/beaches_laemsingh.htm)

"...Only known access is through private land..." (http://www.thephuketnews.com/phuket-officials-probe-beach-entry-fee-payments-55827.php)

"...There are no legal requirements that a private property owner must provide beach access to the public..." (http://www.phuketgazette.net/issuesanswers/issues_answers_details/1166)

<<<< Quoted content from Phuket Wan removed as well as the link >>>>

Edited July 4, 2016 by metisdead
26) The Bangkok Post and Phuketwan do not allow quotes from their news articles or other material to appear on Thaivisa.com. Neither do they allow links to their publications. Posts from members containing quotes from or links to Bangkok Post or Phuk

[futsukayoi]

Need a longtail boat service to the beach for 80 baht

[Saraphee]

The beach hardly looks worth visiting.

[arthurboy]

BBTV, Channel 7 is owned and run by the army.

[happy chappie]

I went there a few times over 10 yrs ago.i think we had to pay 50 baht to park the scooter at the top of the main stairway down to the beach.it was a nice little hide away and was used by the gay/katoey squad that made it that bit more interesting and no I'm not gay,thanks.

[madmitch]

The beach is "free", you just have to pay 20 baht to "access" it down sloping paths through "private" land (http://www.360cities.net/es/image/26-laem-singh-beach-access).

The following links highlight the issue!

"...Even the additional of a 20 baht per person fee to access the beach has not dampened its popularity..." (http://www.phuket.com/island/beaches_laemsingh.htm)

"...Only known access is through private land..." (http://www.thephuketnews.com/phuket-officials-probe-beach-entry-fee-payments-55827.php)

"...There are no legal requirements that a private property owner must provide beach access to the public..." (http://www.phuketgazette.net/issuesanswers/issues_answers_details/1166)

<<<< Quoted content from Phuket Wan removed as well as the link >>>>

Well, if the article is to be believed, that's a 500% price-hike!

[gandalf12]

Just one more nail in Thailand's coffin

[tuanku]

I believe there is a law in Thailand that says if a footpath has been historically used for access across private or public land, and the ownership of that land changes hands, the right of way still exists. Of course there are many laws here which are largely ignored, but I hope someone will challenge this - maybe with a mass trespass like Kinder Scout?

[useronthenet]

I was under the impression the beaches and the access to them, was the constitution right of every person in Thailand. Has this now changed?

[gandalf12]

There is obviously a concerted effort to tell foreigners that they are not welcome here. You pay in the USA on beaches but that is to help keep them clean and they are clean, at least the ones in Florida I went on were. Thailand thinks it can continue to screw money out of tourists and they will continue to come. When they stop, not literally but be reduced by significant numbers, then they will complain.

At some point Thailand will be way down the list for foreigners to visit and the Thai's can blame themselves for their greed but as they say it is easy to lose custom but very hard to get it back and Thailand does not have the competence to recover once it has gone.

Chinese will come for sure but they do not spend money like other nationalities and Thailand will be on the decline.

[gyrosman]

Land permit / title how long does it take to check in a proper government office oh! the police loose tea money, stupid me. Don't forget free booze and food.

[stuarty]

Shopowners? On a public beach? I thought all these beaches had been cleared?

[iReason]

Well, the un-elected P.M. and junta leader has been urging Thais to innovate...

[Psimbo]

Just one more nail in Thailand's coffin

Yep, one beach charging for access and the whole country has just lost its tourist industry. I'd hate to see the size of your hammer.

[Enoon]

Don't worry, the Army will fix this. Same as they fix all evils.

Channel 7 (Bangkok Broadcasting & Television Company Limited under license from Royal Thai Army)

(Just noticed "arthurboy" beat me to it)

Edited July 4, 2016 by Enoon

[The manic]

There is obviously a concerted effort to tell foreigners that they are not welcome here. You pay in the USA on beaches but that is to help keep them clean and they are clean, at least the ones in Florida I went on were. Thailand thinks it can continue to screw money out of tourists and they will continue to come. When they stop, not literally but be reduced by significant numbers, then they will complain.

At some point Thailand will be way down the list for foreigners to visit and the Thai's can blame themselves for their greed but as they say it is easy to lose custom but very hard to get it back and Thailand does not have the competence to recover once it has gone.

Chinese will come for sure but they do not spend money like other nationalities and Thailand will be on the decline.

May I ask if you live here? You always seem to be posting the kind of negative comments I associate with somebody who is clinically depressed. Is this the case?

[grumpyoldman]

I went there a few times over 10 yrs ago.i think we had to pay 50 baht to park the scooter at the top of the main stairway down to the beach.it was a nice little hide away and was used by the gay/katoey squad that made it that bit more interesting and no I'm not gay,thanks.

This and the poster who said it's not that great of a beach anyway are spot on.

The ex-Rockfish Restaurant guys put on a party there about 8 years ago, they were customers of mine so I went. As Duke mentioned it was a bunch of ladyboys all prancing around, not my cup of tea, didn't stay long, haven't been back since.

[Lokie]

I don't get this beach either but all my mates rekon its great?? anyway charging is nowt new, how they doing over at Paradise beach...? Take it all the structures that were given 4 weeks to be removed (about 8 weeks ago) been pulled down yet??

the charade continues...

seriously any update on Paradise, I have not seen anything for weeks on that particular envelope direction operation system thingy me jigs???

[NamKangMan]

Shopowners? On a public beach? I thought all these beaches had been cleared?

The photo also shows some beach lounges and some shade structures. Must be within the 10% rule.

Edited July 4, 2016 by NamKangMan

[NamKangMan]

Need a longtail boat service to the beach for 80 baht

Yes, until they create "The Laem Singh Beach Longtail Boat Association" and charge 100 baht as well.

[thai3]

BBTV, Channel 7 is owned and run by the army.

I thought it was ch 5 they owned?