Thailand: Hard stance against illegal beach business

Thai military government now HARD measures against ILLEGAL BEACH BUSINESS at Phuket and other beaches - everything just torn down. Good !

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Phuket Beach Clean-Up 2014

What happened to Phuket's Beaches - August 2014

The Phuket Beach Clean-Up is the test-phase of a vast anti-corruption project planned to be applied later on to the entire country by the military who took power in May 2014. This project aims at giving back public land to the people by removing all private businesses that illegally built bars, restaurants, and any commercial activity right on the beach. According to the Building Control Act, no building is allowed up to 10 meters from the beach.

The project started right after army’s seizing of power, and the Phuket Beach Clean-Up did not take long to show results. As the project is still going on, this page will be steadily updated in a way to give you information as accurate as possible about what is happening (or already has happened) to the favourite beaches of Phuket and the venues they used to feature - or in some cases, still do. Buddhism says that nothing’s permanent; get ready to see Phuket beaches (almost) as they were 20 years ago.

Patong Beach

The heart of Phuket’s tourism industry has been thoroughly 'cleaned' and not longer hosts the invading five rows of beach-chairs and umbrellas. All solid structures – bars, restaurants, boutiques – that used to stand on the beachfront have also been removed.
Nobody has yet talked about the three famous restaurants built on the rocks between Patong and Kalim, but White Box Restaurant, located at the northern end of Kalim Beach, has already been visited by officials. Only time will tell if this popular restaurant will be removed or not.

Karon Beach

As for today, Karon Beach only had all the small beach bars, sun-loungers and umbrellas removed. Karon went through a clean-up ordered by the municipality in 2011, therefore the actual project had not much left to do.

The two restaurants - Ruen Thep Seafood and Beyond Resort’s – located toward the southern end of the beach are still operating.

Kata Beach

Kata is one of the most popular beaches on Phuket’s west coast and here too, all sun-loungers that used to occupy five rows on the southern part of the beach have been removed. The few small beach bars settled all along the beach are also gone.

The biggest venue that had to go is the cool Ska Bar, built on the rocks under the huge Banyan tree at the southern end of the beach; nothing but its front signboard and cement staircase remain of it.

All the other popular restaurants – Kata Mama, Re-Ka-Ta, Boathouse, and more – do not seem to be concerned about the clean-up project so far.

Surin Beach

Surin is certainly the beach that has suffered most so far in the Phuket Beach Clean-up 2014. It was also the busiest one regarding beach clubbing, and dining with toes in the sand. All restaurants’ and beach clubs’ wooden decks have been removed from the beachfront under the trees.
According to the latest announcements of the army, all restaurants and beach clubs – Catch, Bimi, Salt on Surin, Diamond, Pla Beach & Restaurant, Sea Breeze, Taste and more – will have to go.

Nai Harn Beach

This popular beach of Phuket also went through a serious clean-up: all the restaurants and restaurant decks that used to be installed in the shade of the trees on the beachfront have been removed.

A dozen tiny restaurants are still open in the area between the trees and the backside of Rawai Temple and a sea view is still available while you lunch or dine.

Kata Noi

Kata Noi is a small and charming beach occupied on mostly half of its length by the long-established Katathani Phuket Beach Resort.

The few bamboo and thatch beach bars and boutiques as well as all beach-loungers have been taken away.

Rawai Beach

Rawai remains exactly the same as it used to be. This rather quiet beach does not host any illegal-considered businesses so far. The popular Nikita’s restaurant to one side of the beach and the cool Baan Haad Rawai Restaurant to the other side are still open, yet the latter had to clear out its platforms & salas set up on the beach side of the little road.

Ya Nui Beach

Ya Nui went through drastic changes: everything from the large bamboo and thatch restaurants to beach sun-loungers and small businesses settled on the beachfront have been removed.

Some remains of the restaurant’s roofs and other trash have not been taken away yet.

Ao Sane

Ao Sane is a small beach accessible by passing through The Royal Phuket Yacht Club at the western end of Nai Harn. The restaurants and guesthouses set on the beachfront are still operating.

The owners of these relaxed venues told us that they have not (yet) been approached by the military concerning the legality of their venues.

UNQUOTE

This is in response of century long illegal occupying beach space with illegally installed restaurants. Some made a fortune on it. Now everything is gone. Corruption still very gross in Thailand - money counts. You pay the right guy - nobody will bother you...........CHEERS !