Jet ski operators back on beaches of Phuket

But, she explained, activities such as jet-skis and parasailing fall across the lines of responsibility of the Municipality (on the beach) and the Marine department (on the water).

In any case, she told The Phuket News on Tuesday morning (September 23), “In the order [from the NCPO] for the beach reorganisation project, jet-ski operators had no problem since the beginning, [because they were not mentioned in the orders].

“The reorganisation to return the beach to the public involved only beach loungers and umbrellas, [masseuses and food and drink merchants] not water activities,” she explained.

“All of the beach umbrellas have been moved out and there are no more booths on the beach. But as for the jet-skis, we have never allowed them to install sales booths on the beach,” she added.

Her comments came in response to an email to The Phuket News from a reader, who asked not to be named.

In his email he wrote, “For a short period they were banned but now they are back on the beach and operating in the same illegal manner. How is that possible?

“They park them right on the beach – lining up five to 15 units on their trailers and hawking rides to everybody who [goes by].

“They always park right in front of the swimming zone (because that’s where there is the largest number of potential customers), and this leads to customers starting right off into the swimming area.”

He added, “In Kata this morning there were about eight at the north end, and at Karon, too, there are many. A friend told me Surin beach has up to 30 of them.”

“The new practice now is to occupy all the space in the shade under the trees so beachgoers can no longer enjoy the shade because it is occupied by parked jet-skis.”

Jet-ski operators, he noted, also refuel their machines on the beach and even in the water.

Mayor Chalermluck said, “Since I have been mayor, we have never allowed any businesses to operate on the beach.” But, she admitted, “Business operators might move in when we are not checking or not paying full attention.

“Thank you for letting me know. I will assign a civil enforcement team to inspect there more frequently. But any action in the water is not my responsibility,” she added.

Sakorn Pukham from the Phuket Marine Office said that there is a line of buoys to separate the jet ski and parasailing zone from the swimming zone. “These two activities are nowhere near each other.”

He said that the Marine Office had set an area for swimming and Patong Municipality had installed buoys to mark it.

“But sometimes Patong Beach has strong winds that may alter the lines of the buoys and cause confusion among beachgoers.

“If anyone has complaints about fuel leaking from a jet-ski onto the sea, we would encourage them to take pictures and sent them to Marine Office.”

Mr Sakorn added that since this issue has environmental implications, any action would also have to involve the Office of Natural Resources and Environment.

Complaints and photographs may be sent by post to Phuket Marine Office, 88/5 Saksidet Rd, Wichit, Muang, Phuket 83000, or by email.

why they come back ? noise , pollution and scamming again 

Please Mrs Mayor and NCOP!
Can you put in Taximeters in all taxis and Tuk Tuks, they can have different prices bcs of standards, no problem!
Can you also clear beaches from Jetskis parking now when the only area in shadow is under the trees, But impossible with jetskis parking there. Also mark ares far out where they can drive and also for parashouting. (In other countries they have to start and...

Some administrations need to be reeducated through educational training to understand what is the good ethic and the correct from wrong.

LivinLOS
Maybe big money owns the jetskis (they are n't cheap) and little people try to do weddings on the beach?
Have you noticed how all the small restaurants (Lotus being the exception) were demolished yet the big resorts and villas on encroached Ntional Park land remain?

Completely insane, but I no longer have any faith that anything meaningful will result in the end. The first order of business in the NCPO clean-up was tuktuk and taxi thugs. They still exist, and nothing is really any different. They continue to block streets, harass tourists, and are generally offensive to everybody, including Thais. Then we have the jet-ski scum... the tuktuks of the sea, with ...

So weddings are banned from the beaches because they are \'a commercial activity\' despite not being explictly mentioned by the NCPO order.. And yet Jetskis are somehow not a commercial activity ?? Not on the beach ??