Meanwhile, the area of Surin Beach where all the illegal structures currently stand, is to be transformed into a park in honour of the King and Queen.
Both of these issues were discussed at a meeting held by Phuket Vice Governor Chokdee Amornwat at Provincial Hall yesterday (Apr 18) and attended by local officials including Karon Mayor Tawee Thongcham and acting Chief Administrative Officer for Karon Municipality Wanchai Saetan.
V/Gov Chokdee explained “Karon has four beaches; Karon, Karon Noi, Kata and Kata Noi which have already had their 10 per cent zones set up under the banner “Phuket Beach Model: One Beach, One Rule, One Map and One Organisation.
“Phuket’s beaches belong to public and seizing or encroaching on them is against the law. The 10% zone is the government’s solution to help local residents still have a place to work.
“There are nine beaches that will have the zones; Karon, Karon Noi, Kata, Kata Noi, Nai Harn, Patong, Kamala, Layan-Laypang and Bang Tao, and each of these will be monitored by a BWA that will allow check to ensure beach rules and regulations are not being broken. If they are broken vendors will loose the 10% zone and the beach will be turned to natural beach,” he said.
“The remaining 40 beaches will be natural beaches with no umbrellas and sunbeds allowed. If we not do this,our natural resources and marine environment will deteriorate and soon it will deplete and effect future tourism,” he added.
He continued, “Each BWA will have four groups each comprising of 12 people. Each of these groups will have four of local officials who have the power to enforce the law, four local residents, two beach vendors and two others who have yet to be decided.
“The BWAs will support, collaborate and take care of the beaches including promoting beach conservation to locals and tourists. BWAs will not be involved in politics, but will focus only to preserving our natural resources and environment,” he said.
“They will have had no involvement in the setting up of the 10% zones, that has already been done by government officials. They are there to operate and help enforce beach rules in the 10% zones. Their mission is to make Phuket’s beaches the most beautiful in the Andaman.
“Most importantly, they will never allow foreigners to work in the10% zone” V/G Chokdee added.
He went on to say that Phuket has 50 beaches, and one of those, Surin Beach, will be a beach honouring the King and Queen.
“At present, the land adjoining Surin Beach has been encroached by beach operators both Thai and foreigner, however, on April 20 officials will visit the area and demolish all illegal structures, and in one year Phuket must make this land and transform it into Rajabhakti Park, a place of education for the future,” he added.