Future of Phuket’s jet-ski operators to be decided next week: officials

PHUKET: Jet-ski operators will meet with the Phuket Marine Office on Monday to discuss their fates, following a decision last week that has allowed them to temporarily park their craft on Kamala Beach (story here).

“We have assigned the Phuket Marine Office to take responsibility of the issue concerning jet-ski management, as the operators must seek permission from the office before returning to the beaches,” said Vice Governor Chamroen Tippayapongtada on Tuesday.

“Their officers will report to us if they need any assistance.”

The meeting will look at ways to allow the operators to continue running their businesses without flouting the National Council for Peace and Order’s mandate to keep beaches clean and safe, Phuket Marine Office Chief Phuripat Theerakulpisut said.

“The public meeting should give us a forum to discuss the best line of action,” said Mr Phuripat.

He declined to speculate on what the outcome of the meeting might be for jet-ski operators.

However, on the issue of beach vendors, Vice Governor Chamroen said Phuket authorities would not back down on their decision to keep them off the island’s beaches.

“It took a lot of effort on our part to get rid of the vendors. We want them to remain off the beaches for now,” he said.

— Chutharat Plerin