Everything old is new again. As it is with Phuket and its occasional love affair with sunbeds… the ubiquitous, cheap white plastic sun lounges.
The popular Surin Beach, along the mid west coast, Phuket has been cleared of all its sunbeds (again) with the exception of one operator, according to a Phuket News report.
Officials removed “masses” of sunbeds from the beach, leaving just one operator to provide beach seating for everyone.
Several netizens have questioned the decision and the exception to the rule, which has left the Surin Beach Club as the only business with sunbeds on the beach.
“Only the Surin Beach Club is authorised to have chairs, tables, and large cushions on the beach. Why?”
To date, the Cherng Talay Tambon Administration Organisation (OrBorTor) has not commented on the clear-out of sunbed operators, which follows last month’s ceremony to launch the construction of Surin Beach’s Glass Terrace – a scenic walkway and viewing platform.
The Cherng Talay OrBorTor has been a hotbed of bribery and corruption for decades, with the former President, MaAnn Samran, currently serving 2 years in jail over corruption charges.
The Phuket News reports that during the high-profile ceremony to launch the new facilities at Surin Beach, officials in attendance would have had an unobstructed view of the beach, lined with sunchairs and umbrellas along the entire stretch of sand.
The largest clear-out at Surin Beach – and most other Phuket beaches – took place in May 2014, shortly after a military coup that installed the recently-departed military junta. In the intervening years however, operators gradually crept back with little to no intervention from the authorities.
This latest clear-out follows a recent raid on Kata Beach, conducted by newly-appointed Phuket Governor, Sophon Suwannarat, which resulted in the arrest of 3 sunbed and umbrella operators who were found to be working illegally.
SOURCE: The Phuket News
