PHUKET, THAILAND – Authorities launched large-scale operations on Phuket’s beaches to remove unlicensed vendors and reclaim public space.
Governor orders six-hour sweep of Surin Beach
On direct orders from Governor Nirat Pongsitthiwat, the provincial administration deployed a major operation on Surin Beach. Deputy Governor Theerapong Chuaychu personally oversaw the inspection. From 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., a 50-person team from the administration, police and volunteers checked every meter of the shoreline.
The stated goal was to halt unauthorized commercial activities that blocked public access or caused a nuisance. According to officials, the operation proceeded calmly.
Action follows vendor brawl and arrests
The sweep came after five people were arrested on Monday for illegally placing beach chairs and umbrellas. A triggering factor was a video of a fight between rival vendors that had gone viral on social media as they argued over the best spots. In response, the Cherng Talay OrBorTor also began sending daily cleaning crews to keep the beach tidy.
Residents question fairness and transparency
Not everyone welcomed the tough approach. A local resident used social media to criticize the blanket measures, arguing that not all vendors were to blame. The difficult economic situation was said to be driving people to the beach to earn a living, and enforcement should not hit all small traders unfairly.
The critic also complained about a lack of clarity over who was properly registered and which areas were truly public. The debate over rules and access to the shoreline has now flared up.
Parallel clear-out at Patong Beach
The clean-up was not limited to Surin. In a parallel operation at Patong Beach, the Kathu district administration moved in. Under the leadership of Deputy District Chief Anurak Poolsak, officials on Tuesday evening confiscated tables, chairs and food carts.
Everything placed on the sand without permission was removed. Authorities signalled that the “Wild West” mentality on Phuket’s beaches was over and that regulations would be enforced.
Public beaches at the heart of a long-running struggle
By law, Thailand’s beaches were defined as public property, but vendors and rental operators had gradually expanded their footprint over many years. The latest strict enforcement was intended to restore order and fairness for all visitors, including tourists and properly registered businesses. For Phuket, it remained a balancing act between promoting tourism and protecting the natural beauty that attracts guests in the first place.
Who owns the beach?
A surge of new rules was now colliding with long-held desires for open views of the sea, free movement for visitors and jobs for vendors. The situation raised fundamental questions: Was the beach a public space that had to be protected, or a place where people should be allowed to earn a living — and, more importantly, who decided where the line was drawn?