Research team to reveal beach-management solution next month

PHUKET: The beach-management research team at Prince of Songkhla University (PSU) Phuket campus will present its findings about current beach rules and ideas for the future to Governor Nisit Jansomwong next month.

Governor Nisit told the Phuket Gazette last week (story here) that he had designated the research team to evaluate the results of the three-month trial period for the beaches’ 10-per-cent vendor zones, which was launched by the governor in December.

Although the researchers have declined to reveal any specific information about the results until it has been presented to the governor, Associate Professor Pun Thongchumnum, Dean of Faculty of Technology and Environment, told the Phuket Gazette on Saturday that he believes they have come up with a solution.

“We have the initial results already. We need to study and analyze specific aspects of the findings, especially how it pertains to environmental issues, economics, tourism and social management, so that our research is more valuable and conclusive enough,” Dr Pun said.

Dr Pun is confident that the researchers have come up with a solution for the beach-management issues, and hopes that provincial officers will employ it.

“We have come up with a suggestion based on five essential factors: legality, preventing the use of public land for profit, creating harmony between all parties, creating more income and environmental friendliness,” he said.

“We have learned from our past and will not return to that point, especially regarding the possession of land by mafia groups or limited access of a specific group to capital.

“I think our solution is neutral and promotes sustainable development of tourism in Phuket.”

— Kongleaphy Keam