Vice-Governor Jamroen Tipayapongtada and the Phuket police commander made their remarks after a Swedish family were recently asked to remove their umbrellas from the beach.
V/Gov Jamroen told The Phuket News, “I don’t have any complaints to be honest, it is their right to use an umbrella and lay on the beach.”
“In my opinion, if every beach had a specific area for vendors to rent out umbrellas and mattresses, it would really help them [the vendors] out.
“It would be a good opportunity for them. But, I would need to talk with the Phuket Land department first, then I’ll know what the options are.”
Phuket Provincial Police Commander Maj Gen Patchara Boonyasit confirmed to The Phuket News, “I heard about the tourists who were recently asked to remove their umbrellas. If the police were to arrest the tourists, it would be silly.
“I went to Karon Beach to see what was going on, but I didn’t see anything. I can confirm that tourists may use their own personal umbrellas on the beach and they will not be arrested!”
After meeting with Governor Nisit Jansomwong, Maj Gen Patchara said he planned to hold a press conference to make the media aware of the situation.