Phasakorn Channgam
The Pattaya Marine Department is considering new regulations to take
effect next month that would carve up the area’s shoreline into separate
operating zones for swimming, jet skis and boats, hoping such a move ends
the stream of deadly accidents involving tourists.
Marine Department Deputy
Director Nut Jabjai has put forth the idea of designating specific operating
zones for water sports.
Marine Department Deputy Director Nut Jabjai told
Banglamung District, Pattaya officials and police at an Oct. 3 meeting that
he likes the idea of designating specific operating zones for water sports
and could offer up new regulations in November.
Boat-tour operators attending the meeting also were told they need to clean
up their act. Unless tourists are on organized tours, travel insurance may
not cover accidents, Nut said. But too many tour operators are being
criticized for jacking up rates, operating without insurance or boat
licenses, and having unsafe boats.
He said a variety of agencies are working together to form a comprehensive
marine-safety department to solve the problems. Four tourists have been
killed and dozens injured in boat-related accidents this year.
The best solution, however, may be designated operating
zones, Nut said. Seventeen swimming zones would be established along area
beaches, each measuring 300 by 150 meters. Separate zones would be set for
banana boats, jet skis, restaurant boats and parasailing. Specific entry and
exit routes would be set for boats.
Pattaya City Councilman Sanit Boonmachai, who also heads the Pattaya Tour
Boat Operators Club, said he approved of Nut’s concept, but threw up several
objections, saying low tides could make the plan problematic.
Specifically, Sanit said, the 200 by 800-meter banana boat zone would be
unusable during low tide, he claimed. Jet skis would also suffer problems
during low tide.
He said he also thought restricting jet skis to North Pattaya and banana
boats to South Pattaya would make life difficult on operators.
Finally, Sanit claimed, restricting speedboat routes would increase costs by
75 percent. He offered no figures to back up his claim.
Deputy Mayor Ronakit Ekasingh acknowledged the councilman’s objections, but
said new regulations and operating zones must be established to cut down on
accidents.
More meetings are planned to smooth over objections and finalize any
proposed regulations.
