Registration was open for residents of Kamala on Monday and Tuesday and for Patong on Wednesday to today (August 29). The main targets were beach chair renters, masseuses and roaming food and drink vendors. Jet-ski and parasailing operators can qualify under the "other" category.
“The total number who registered with us is 371 from a total of 466 beach businesses operators we inspected before the beach clean-up project began,” Kathu District Chief Sayan Chanachaiwong told The Phuket News this afternoon (August 29).
Of the 371, 81 registered in Kamala and 290 in Patong.
“After completing registration we will begin discussion and inspection of all the people on the list to get more detail,” Mr Sayan said.
“We have already made some preparations. For example we will ask the hotels to help by taking on masseuses in their spas, and some of the beach vendors will move to booths provided on municipal land,” he explained.
Patong Municipality has already prepared half a dozen booths at Loma Park.
“We will try to find out first what they need, and if they want a change of career the Labour Department will provide them with training courses,” Mr Sayan said.
Anyone else who has been affected by the clean-up can still come to Kathu District Office after today, but the 371 already registered will get priority, he said.
Muang District (which covers Kata, Karon and Nai Harn Beaches) and Thalang (Surin, Laypang, Bangtao, Layan, Naithon, Naiyang and Mai Khao Beaches) are carrying out similar exercises.