Paradise lost: Tourists disappearing from Thai island as jet ski gangs move in

[webfact]

Paradise lost: Tourists disappearing from Thai island as jet ski gangs move in

 

Thai caption: Jetski "gangs" on the rampage

 

Tourists are quitting an idyllic and quiet island beach in southern Thailand after gangs of jet skis moved in. 

 

The area of Koh Nork east of Koh Yao in Phangnga used to be a great spot for peace and quiet, snorkeling and sight seeing. Some people stayed over. 

 

But since the jet ski gangs moved in that is changing and locals are finding that the tourists don't want to return. 

 

Badin, a guide told Sanook that dozens of jet skis arrive at a time and race around the area - and the problem is getting worse and worse. 

 

Locals are calling on the authorities to investigate. They believe that the jet skis have no right to be there and are damaging the environment as well as the livelihoods of tour operators and tourist businesses. 

 

Source: Sanook

 

 

-- © Copyright Thai Visa News 2019-07-30

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[RotBenz8888]

Bangkok motorcycle racers on holiday?

[BobBKK]

No doubt they have 'connections' and can ply their 'trade' unhindered. 

[spidermike007]

The jet ski operators on Samui, Phuket and Pattaya have long been a plague on the land. Most of the operators are surly, many are armed, and willing to commit violence and threats against their customers, at the slightest sign of resistance to their scams. Plus, they are a nuisance, a danger to swimmers, and benefit nobody expect the operators, and the local police franchisees. The often claim damage to their equipment, and extort large sums out of tourists, who unwittingly get the police (the local franchisee) involved, who then "negotiate" down the fine. All of it is very unseemly, and despite proclamations by the weak and hapless army, nothing has ever been done about this ongoing criminal enterprise, for more than a two week period, without any follow up (which is typical of everything the army does). 

 

This is just one more nail in the coffin of Thai tourism. These scams that remain addressed after all of these years, remain a blight on the land. 

[Kenneth OSHEA]

Hope they stay away from Koh Chang????

[AsiaCheese]

1 hour ago, spidermike007 said:

The jet ski operators on Samui, Phuket and Pattaya have long been a plague on the land. Most of the operators are surly, many are armed, and willing to commit violence and threats against their customers, at the slightest sign of resistance to their scams. Plus, they are a nuisance, a danger to swimmers, and benefit nobody expect the operators, and the local police franchisees. The often claim damage to their equipment, and extort large sums out of tourists, who unwittingly get the police (the local franchisee) involved, who then "negotiate" down the fine. All of it is very unseemly, and despite proclamations by the weak and hapless army, nothing has ever been done about this ongoing criminal enterprise, for more than a two week period, without any follow up (which is typical of everything the army does). 

 

This is just one more nail in the coffin of Thai tourism. These scams that remain addressed after all of these years, remain a blight on the land. 

While what you wrote is all true, I think the post was referring to private jetskis (which is none the better from rental ones)

[trainman34014]

Lat's be honest you Local's; you don't care about 'Damage to the Environment'...only damage to your pockets !

[holy cow cm]

I personally hate jet skis. Noisy, dangerous to swimmers and abusive to everything in the water. Ban them all.

[SymS]

"jet ski gangs in, tourists out"

[smew]

Sad and all true.... next year tourist numbers will reveal the real story of the stare of Thai tourism.

[keystonecoppers2]

 

 

                Just ignore the buggers. Do not engage in any talk or renting from them.

                They will dissappear when business is down to zero.

                But you, who live there, tell the tourists about their scams.

                It`s your duty to do so, if you want your nice beach to be just that, nice!

 

                They came to my beach, some years ago, 3-4 jetski came in for a try.

                As the beach is National protected, the local police told them to

                get lost, fast!  Problem solved!!   

[ChrisY1]

Just another issue affecting tourism that the dopey authorities ignore....they're stupid and it shows!

[Crustyhk]

And they’re puzzled as to why tourism has plummeted? The whole country has a “gang” feel about it nowadays and there’s nowhere to turn if you need help as no one in authority can be trusted. 

They’ve had years to stop these scams but it’s clearly too profitable to shit down

[mike787]

I learned early on coming here.  Avoid, keep exposure minimal, and don't argue with Thais.  The consequences are lethal 

[johnarth]

2 hours ago, Kenneth OSHEA said:

Hope they stay away from Koh Chang????

that good you tell everybody they not there

[unamazedloso]

Jet skis are fun. Im guessing people that complain have never used them. Sadists!!

[atyclb]

3 hours ago, spidermike007 said:

The jet ski operators on Samui, Phuket and Pattaya have long been a plague on the land. Most of the operators are surly, many are armed, and willing to commit violence and threats against their customers, at the slightest sign of resistance to their scams. Plus, they are a nuisance, a danger to swimmers, and benefit nobody expect the operators, and the local police franchisees. The often claim damage to their equipment, and extort large sums out of tourists, who unwittingly get the police (the local franchisee) involved, who then "negotiate" down the fine. All of it is very unseemly, and despite proclamations by the weak and hapless army, nothing has ever been done about this ongoing criminal enterprise, for more than a two week period, without any follow up (which is typical of everything the army does). 

 

This is just one more nail in the coffin of Thai tourism. These scams that remain addressed after all of these years, remain a blight on the land. 

 

no surprise, much of thailand functions like a criminal organization 

[Tropposurfer]

Always saw jet skis as a bloody dangerous shote.

Great for rescue great for surf lifesavers. The rest are a bloody pest!

[Chongalulu]

The mentality of the average Thai means they have no anticipation or foresight and are unable/unwilling to notice and address the problems now seriously damaging their tourist industry. They’ll just keep milking it until it dries up and then start scratching their stupid heads wondering where it all went wrong. 

Anecdotal I know ,but a good friend who’d often go to  Thailand ,after a gap of a few years went to Samui earlier this year experienced the rip off taxi fare from the airport,but more worryingly the hugely dangerous driving with her 2 children. She will now NEVER go back to Thailand.

[atyclb]

if said jetskis are privately owned by thai's why cant they use them?? 

[kentrot]

2009 TV documentary

on Jet Ski Scams

 

 

 

[transam]

2 minutes ago, unamazedloso said:

Jet skis are fun. Im guessing people that complain have never used them. Sadists!!

In the right place they are, kids, parents etc that would like a swim off the beach  will not bother, too dangerous....Unfortunately those in control are doing nothing or turning a blind eye regarding beach/shallow water safety, I wonder why..... That reminds me, must post that letter/envelope tomorrow...

[atyclb]

9 minutes ago, Tropposurfer said:

Always saw jet skis as a bloody dangerous shote.

Great for rescue great for surf lifesavers. The rest are a bloody pest!

 

[spidermike007]

54 minutes ago, mike787 said:

I learned early on coming here.  Avoid, keep exposure minimal, and don't argue with Thais.  The consequences are lethal 

 

Very wise advice. I pretty much do the same. When I am confronted with a Thai who is annoyed with me, I tend to just defer, and be polite. It is usually defused within a matter of seconds, when humility is shown. Almost seems to come as a surprise to the angry men who are so easily offended. It is never a good idea to engage in a fight with a Thai person. Never. Only under the most extreme circumstances, when your life is being threatened. You never win. If you kick their ass you lose, and that is if seven other Thai guys do not get involved. And if they kick your ass you lose. Just refrain. I get infuriated from time to time. But, I have learned to not mouth off, and I always attempt to show respect.

 

When I first arrived I lived on Samui, and the road monsters there used to really piss me off. I had a guy cut me off on my motorbike, and nearly cause an accident, and I pulled up next to him to say something. He tried to run me off of a cliff! He never thought twice about it. Just a natural instinct, for someone that questioned what he did. How can you fight something like that? No point in getting into a fight with a guy who looks 40, but is actually 13, and has homicidal intentions!

 

 

[mok199]

These mutts are the lowest life in Thailand.. they  go where they are ordered to go...they sit when they are told to sit ,they bark when they are ordered to bark...

[spidermike007]

I think perhaps a few decades from now, they will have tourism classes at university, where they will discuss how Thailand lost the golden egg of Western tourism. They will escort students through abandoned hotels, and tell them these places used to have an occupancy rate of 70%! Now, we are converting them into schools. Those tourists, unlike most Chinese tourists, spent anywhere from $100 a day, to over $2,000 a day. They brought real money into the country, and in exchange, were treated with utter and complete disregard, scammed, disrespected, and abused. Eventually, most said no more.

 

Thailand thought the country was something very special, that it was the center of the universe, that a kind of magic emanated from the sacred land, and that nobody would ever say no, or find alternative places to visit. Once they came, why would they ever go anywhere else? The nation was perfection, no? How do you improve on perfection? 

 

The fact is that there are countless other spots, many in this region, that offer better service, more expertise in food and beverage (especially wine service and selection at fair prices, which rich tourists demand), reasonable import duties to sustain a luxury goods market (which in turn sustains and encourages a wealthier tourism market - DUH!) better training, and far better english skills. Thailand simply lost sight of the big picture, and had zero vision, with regard to big spending tourists, who need to be catered to, offered quality, public safety, real law enforcement, smart policy, effective immigration services, and responsiveness, instead of scorn, surliness, and denial.  

[TKDfella]

Nope, can't be true. TAT says tourism is up.????

[ChipButty]

3 minutes ago, spidermike007 said:

I think perhaps a few decades from now, they will have tourism classes at university, where they will discuss how Thailand lost the golden egg of Western tourism. Those tourists, unlike most Chinese tourists, spent anywhere from $100 a day, to over $2,000 a day. They brought real money into the country, and in exchange, were treated with utter and complete disregard, scammed, disrespected, and abused. Eventually, most said no more.

 

Thailand thought the country was something very special, that it was the center of the universe, that a kind of magic emanated from the sacred land, and that nobody would ever say no, or find alternative places to visit.

 

The fact is that there are countless other spots, many in this region, that offer better service, more expertise in food and beverage (especially wine service and selection at fair prices, which rich tourists demand), reasonable import duties to sustain a luxury goods market (which in turn sustains and encourages a wealthier tourism market - DUH!) better training, and far better english skills. Thailand simply lost sight of the big picture, and had zero vision, with regard to big spending tourists, who need to be catered to, offered quality, public safety, real law enforcement, and responsiveness, instead of scorn, surliness, and denial.  

And no TM-30's

[katatonic]

27 minutes ago, unamazedloso said:

Jet skis are fun. Im guessing people that complain have never used them. Sadists!!

I have to use them as part of my job in the yachting industry, have done for decades. Most people in the industry would agree that anyone who finds them fun after the first minute needs a lobotomy. 

[ujayujay]

1 hour ago, johnarth said:

that good you tell everybody they not there

????????????...dream on , little dreamer......