PHUKET, THAILAND – A viral video showing a tourist charged 150 Baht for a single coconut on Patong Beach set off a wave of outrage and official inspections.
Excessive prices on a dream beach
A short clip circulating online showed a holidaymaker paying 150 Baht for one coconut as refreshment on the sand. The image of the tourist reaching deep into his pocket quickly spread across social media.
The reaction on the internet was intense, with many users accusing beach sellers of exploiting visitors. As the criticism mounted, state inspectors stepped in to stop what was described as a price frenzy.
Officials move against alleged overchargers
The director of the Trade Authority, Woranit Aphiratjiravong, immediately dispatched an inspection team to Patong. The officials checked every stall directly along the shoreline.
Their review found that most vendors complied with existing rules. In the second row behind the beach, coconuts were often sold for only 50 to 80 Baht.
Ice and labour costs push up coconut prices
The sellers defended their high prices by pointing to substantial underlying costs. They said they paid around 30 to 40 Baht per coconut at wholesale.
On top of that, they cited large quantities of ice for cooling and expensive labour as major factors. Many coconuts spoiled after just three days, they added, causing further losses.
Unlicensed sellers under scrutiny
Local traders reported the presence of outside vendors without licences on the beach. According to them, these individuals blended in with regular sellers and collected money from unsuspecting tourists.
Police announced plans to take tougher action against such operators. Officers warned that these alleged fraudsters were damaging the reputation of the entire holiday island of Phuket and deterring visitors.
Strict new rules and push for transparency
By the end of April, authorities planned to call all beach vendors to a crisis meeting. Anyone who failed to display a clear price label would face harsh penalties.
Officials said greater transparency was intended to win back the trust of guests. Phuket was seeking to defend its image as a fair travel destination for people from around the world.
“Do you think a holidaymaker has to accept any price for luxury on the beach?”
said the article, inviting readers to share their views in the comments.