Mr Ma-Ann told The Phuket News that the issue of beach encroachment from local Thai restaurants and hotel beach clubs was a problem to which he believes some government officials “turn a blind eye”.
“The problem is on such a large scale that if they successfully removed one restaurant from the beach, they need to remove them all,” he said, noting that this would take several months, or even years, to go through the Thai legal system.
His solution is to instead develop the 73 rai parcel of unused government land that runs behind the beachfront into a large recreational area.
It would have a football field (nearly complete), kids playground, jogging track, an 18-hole golf course, benches to relax on, car parking for 200 cars, clean toilets and hygienic restaurants.
The idea is that beach restaurants will move to the area, which will have artificial grass, rather than destroy the beachfront, he said.
“The local shop owners would benefit from this by opening up shops in the recreational area, and be able to sell their food at a higher price.”
This project was approved in March last year by Gov Tri Augkaradacha. The football field is nearly complete but construction is now at a standstill while the money to complete the remainder of the plans is found.
Mr Ma-Ann said, “The encroachment on the public beach of Surin can be seen very clearly by just walking along the beachfront.
“Most local restaurants have built small erosion banks with bamboo to stop the sea coming in to destroy their restaurant, ensuring there is enough sand to set their sunbeds and beach umbrellas up for their business.”
Mr Ma-Ann thinks tourists are not impressed when they come down to Surin Beach, and see hundreds of beach umbrellas and restaurants lining the sand, with hardly any room to walk.
“It looks unsightly,” he said.
This new project would lead to a “more structured and organised beach stretch”, allowing tourists to feel at ease and walk along the beach without having to zigzag between beach umbrellas, he said.