The rules for beach chair rental companies under scrutiny again
Insofar as beach chair and umbrella rental companies didn't “get it” the first time around, the military regime has once again made it clear that the monopoly of corrupt local politicians and “influential” people is over. These have controlled the great beaches of Pattaya for decades.
Maj. Gene. Popanan Luengpanuwat, head of the National Council for Peace and Order in Banglamung, informed more than 22 beach chair holders on August 200 that they can only continue their work for a limited period of time. When that term has expired, they can no longer continue to rent out beach chairs and umbrellas or must register or register again.
Popanan, a Pattaya city council member, is particularly against the people who are active on the beaches of Wong Amat, Koh Larn. New military policies such as those on Pattaya and Jomtien beaches must be complied with.
The new regulations restrict operators to renting just a 9 by 7 meter plot of land and are prohibited from transferring their franchise to children and relatives. The operators were also informed that tourists not using their chairs are not allowed to use their own belongings on the ground in the vicinity of the beach chair rental company. The landlords must ensure this.
General Popanan also said that vendors on the area's main beaches are complying well with the new policy, but operators on the smaller beaches are not complying. While the military supports the intent of the new policy, the real goal is to fight corruption so that a few stakeholders do not own parts of Pattaya's public beaches. The licenses can no longer remain within a limited circle for decades.
In the past, it was suggested that land worked on should be owned, although a hefty sum of money had to be paid monthly, so that some bought it. However, the money went into the pockets of the “government services” and no further registration took place. Chawalit stated unequivocally that local government corruption has supported the false beliefs that private individuals could own public land. Many tenants are therefore not registered with the municipality, even though an approval was issued by government officials.
The operators were also informed that tourists not using their chairs are not allowed to use their own belongings on the ground in the vicinity of the beach chair rental company. The landlords must ensure this.
I wonder if this is correct.
Tourists are forbidden to sit on their own mat, near a rental company with beach chairs?
That seems very unlikely to me and contradicts what has been said before.
It seems to me more likely that they are not allowed to forbid the tourist to sit on his own mat.
This sentence is not very true:
The operators were also informed that tourists not using their chairs are not allowed to use their own belongings on the ground in the vicinity of the beach chair rental company. The landlords must ensure this.
it should be: the operators were also informed that tourists who do not rent their chairs are allowed to deposit their own belongings on the free beach and that the operators ALSO have to pay attention to this.
The pieces between the rented plots must remain free and clean.
Is this a (national) policy that you will also experience on other beaches, such as Hua Hin?