A fact-finding meeting and field visit were held in Patong yesterday (Feb 12), led by Nopporn Boonkaew, Deputy Permanent Secretary to the Prime Minister, who met with beach service operators to hear concerns over foreign-linked businesses, waterway regulations and marine safety issues.
The probe stems from a petition submitted on Sep 30 last year by Platth Chandrasobhin, an adviser to the Phuket Jet-Ski Rental Operators Club, through the Prime Minister’s Office 1111 Public Service Center.
The complaint followed an earlier submission on Jan 10 last year, and called for investigations into companies claiming to operate as associations while allegedly acting as representatives of foreign investors.
The petition also requested the suspension of licences for jet-ski rental operators found to be operating illegally.
Following receipt of the complaints, the Office of the Permanent Secretary to the Prime Minister instructed the Phuket Provincial Office, led by Governor Nirat Pongsitthaworn, and the Phuket Marine Office to investigate the allegations, take action within their authority and report preliminary findings to the complainants.
During the meeting yesterday, operators raised six key issues:
- The impact of waterway area regulations, citing a Phuket Provincial Office notice issued on Feb 16 this year, which repeated the longstanding rule that water activity zones are to occupy no more than 10% of beach areas;
- Alleged unauthorised rental of electric surfboards, jet surfboards and electric hydrofoil bikes at Patong, Kata, Karon and Kalim beaches, which operators say disrupt other activities and raise accident risks;
- Claims of foreign investment groups operating through Thai nominees, affecting local businesses;
- Problems with designated jet-ski parking areas and regulation of licensed rental businesses;
- Safety concerns over speedboat parking and the risk of maritime accidents;
- Allegations that licences have been issued to associations purportedly representing foreign investment groups in violation of the law.
Operators called on authorities to carry out thorough investigations into organisations claiming to act as associations or representatives of foreign investors, suspend licences for illegal operators, and strengthen marine safety management across Phuket’s beaches