Again.
Alcohol and sun loungers are being banned from Phuket’s Freedom Beach, again. Often described as a “secret” beach, given its hideaway location between the larger beaches of Patong and Karon.
The Bangkok Post reports that provincial officials and park authorities will conduct regular patrols on Freedom Beach, again, with a particular focus on ending the sale of alcohol, and the renting of sun loungers, on the beach.
Chalermpong Saengdee, an MP from the Move Forward Party says patrols will also involve officials from the Royal Forestry Department. A meeting was held yesterday, February 12, to discuss measures aimed at eliminating vendors from the beauty spot.
Freedom Beach is located below Nak Kerd Mountain and is part of a national reserve forest. However, vendors of sun loungers and umbrellas are routinely found touting their wares without permission. Every time they get thrown off, they start creeping back in the months that follow.
Yesterday, February 12, the authorities descended on the beach to remove a number of sun loungers and the vendors renting them, having been alerted by photos that appeared in the media (including this one posted on local social media in the past few days).
Provincial governor Sophon Suwannarat says forestry officials will patrol the beach from today, joined by various Phuket officials.
However, the governor adds that the beach will eventually open for commercialisation, with a team currently being formed to oversee the process.
SOURCE: Bangkok Post
