Phuket Governor Nisit Jansomwong announced the slew of new beach rules at meeting he chaired on January 29. (See story here.)
The beach raid followed many complaints filed about beach vendors breaking the rules, explained Lt Sompop Kamkana of the Royal Thai Navy Third Area Command.
“Umbrellas, sun loungers and vendors selling alcohol beverages were all along the beach,” he said.
“Maybe they misunderstood the beach management system. We gave them verbal warnings this time.”
Lt Sompop also noted that local officials could not have been doing their job for the situation that he saw yesterday arise.
Some beach operators were using foreigners to try to convince local officials to not enforce the beach rules, he added.
“They ask foreigners to tell us that the beach management rules are not uncomfortable. They ask us to allow the vendors to be free on the beach, which is not possible,” Lt Sompop said.
Navy personnel will now conduct random checks on all beaches in Phuket.
“Next time we will come with more officers and check the entire beach area,” Lt Sompop said.
“And next time will be no more verbal warnings,” he cautioned.