Russian tourists fined 20,000 baht for jet skiing in Krabi, Thailand

Two Russian tourists were fined 20,000 baht for jet skiing in Krabi province, in southern Thailand, where the watersport is prohibited according to the province’s environmental protection measures.

Jet skis and all other kinds of motorised water sports are banned in Krabi province to protect the environment, but two Russian tourists say there were not aware of the rule.

Yesterday, boat operators took photos of two foreign tourists jet skiing near Hong Island off the coast of Krabi.

This morning, Krabi Harbour officials went to Laem Pong Bay in Nong Thale subdistrict to find two jet skis in the sea.

A 47 year old Russian man told the officials that it was he and his wife riding the jet skis yesterday. He said they drove to Krabi from Pattaya, towing the two jet skis behind their vehicle.

He said neither he nor his wife knew that jet skiing was against Krabi province’s rules.

The harbour officials confirmed that both jet skis are registered in Pattaya as the Russian tourist said.

The officials took the Russian man to Krabi Provincial Harbour Office, where they fined him 10,000 baht per jet ski for violating Krabi province’s Environmental Control Act.

The officials also contacted the “relevant agencies” about taking further legal action.

In the tourists’ defence, Thailand’s jet skiing rules are confusing. In Pattaya, it’s allowed. In Phuket, it’s allowed on some beaches – Patong, Karon, Kata, Kamala, and Bang Tao and not others, e.g., Surin Beach.

However, many tourists no longer bother with jet skiing after hearing jet ski scam stories.

It is typical for tourists to rent jet skis only to be told upon returning them that the jet skis are damaged. On Bang Tao beach, one jet ski operator allegedly asked two Chinese tourists for 200,000 baht for “repairs.”

If you want to rent jet skis in Thailand, it’s important to rent from a reputable operator and inspect the condition of the jet ski first and, of course, don’t jet ski in Krabi.