Phuket

Patong night venues threaten protest

Published

14 years ago

October 1, 2004

Patong night venues threaten protest | The Thaiger

PATONG: Sompetch Moosopon, President of the Patong Entertainment Association, today said that owners of Patong entertainment venues will “take action” if their request for an extension to closing times is not granted.

“If our request for Patong to be designated a special entertainment area – which will be proposed to Interior Minister Bhokin Bhalakula and Deputy Interior Minister Pracha Maleenont – is denied, we will take action,” he told the Gazette.

“We have drawn up a formal request, which will be handed to [the ministers] by Patong Mayor Pian Keesin, explaining that all entertainment places in Patong, which we consider as tourism businesses, are not located in residential areas and do not make noise that disturbs people at night.”

K. Sompetch explained that Mayor Pian is expecting to meet the ministers, possibly today or early next week. “We have asked them to consider Patong as a special zone. Any entertainment venue in Patong should not have the same closing time as other places in Thailand. The closing time we have asked for is 4 am,” he said.

“We will hold discussions about whether to protest if the government ignores our request. The Phuket City Entertainment Business Association [PCEBA] will be invited to join the discussions. The PCEBA has already accepted the 2 am closing time,” he added.

The earlier closing time of 1 am – or 2 am in the case of a small number of venues – is not the only problem troubling entertainment business owners this year. On March 12, all existing entertainment licenses were revoked and new licences introduced.

However, the government has yet to set the fees for each of the new licenses, and fears are rife within Phuket’s entertainment industry that each license may cost as much as 50,000 baht.

Wisut Romin, Deputy Secretary of the Phuket Provincial Administration Office (PPAO), today told the Gazette, “The Department of Local Administration is still working on the rules for calculating the fees. We do not want to see the big venues have an advantage over the smaller ones.

He added, “[Entertainment businesses owners] shouldn’t worry about the fees; we are allowing them to continue trading without paying the government any fees. We will collect them retroactively.”

Phuket

Phuket tourist decides hotel awning more comfortable than his room

Published

1 day ago

February 22, 2019

Kritsada Mueanhawong

Phuket tourist decides hotel awning more comfortable than his room | The Thaiger

PHOTOS: Rawai Rescue workers / Phuket Tourist Police

The Phuket Tourist Police have been notified that a tourist had jumped from a building in Rawai and ended up on a steel awning covering the bottom floor today. But that wasn’t, in fact, what had happened.

The local Tourist Police say the owner of the building told staff at the Tourist Assistance Centre that the tourist had checked into the room on February 13.

The tourist didn’t actually jump down from the building but had moved a mattress from his room on to the awning and slept on it (mosquitos!!) He was also drunk and damaged some property inside the room.

The man is a 37 year old Estonian tourist. He was staying at the room with a 25 year old male friend.

Chalong Police have charged them both with being drunk and damaging property. They have said that they will pay for all damages to the owner of the property. They are heading back home on February 26.

Phuket

Patong motorbike racer arrested and fined – VIDEO

Published

2 days ago

February 22, 2019

The Thaiger

PHOTO: Patong Police

Patong Police yesterday arrested a motorbike racer after identifying him and his motorbike from video clips that were popular in social media this week.

Patong Police are investigating alleged foreign motorbike racing gangs in Patong after video clips went viral in local social media.

Read more about the racing around Patong’s streets HERE.

Patong Police report that they have now arrested one motorbike racer and charged him with the maximum fine.

Patong Police are also asking motorbike rental operators to explain basic traffic rules for motorbike drivers who want to rent a motorbike.

(The Thaiger is assuming this would be covered when they get their motorbike license, which they are required to have before a motorbike is rented to them.)

PHUKETForeigners racing around Patong. Who would have thought?! https://thethaiger.com/news/phuket/police-investigate-motorbike-hoons-in-patongVIDEO: เป็นปากเป็นเสียง

Posted by The Thaiger on Wednesday, February 20, 2019

Phuket

500 free helmets handed out to motorbike drivers in Patong

Published

2 days ago

February 22, 2019

Kritsada Mueanhawong

500 free helmets handed out to motorbike drivers in Patong | The Thaiger

Patong Development Foundation together with Patong Police and Patong Municipality have given 500 helmets to motorbike drivers in Patong today under the campaign ‘Wear your helmet’.

Handing out the 500 helmets to motorbike user in Patong was led by Patong Police Chief Col Anothai Jindamanee, Patong Municipality Chalermluck Kebsup and President of Patong Development Foundation Preechawut ‘Prap’ Keesin.

Col Anothai says, “Many motorbike drivers have been injured and died in road accident. We want 100 percent of motorbike drivers and passengers wearing helmets. ”

“More motorbike riders are now wearing helmets as the number of not wearing helmet charges has been dropping in Patong with better enforcement.”