Phuket begins jet-ski crackdown to boost tourist safety; 23 offenders fined

Phuket is intensifying efforts to ensure tourist safety by implementing stricter regulations and enforcement for jet ski services. Authorities initiated a crackdown, resulting in 23 offenders being fined on the first day of the operation. This move comes after Deputy Minister of Transport Sanphet Bunyamanee's inspection visit, during which he received complaints regarding the conduct of jet ski operators and the effectiveness of law enforcement at popular tourist destinations. In response, Bunyamanee directed the Phuket Regional Marine Office to promptly regulate operators and enhance inspections and enforcement measures. The objective is to improve safety standards and bolster the confidence of tourists visiting the island. Officials issued the maximum administrative fine of 10,000 baht (approximately S$384) to each of the 23 individuals caught operating vessels without the required boat-use licenses, a violation under Section 9 of the Navigation in Thai Waters Act. Bunyamanee stated that this operation marks the beginning of a broader policy to elevate service standards in Phuket's marine tourism sector through rigorous law enforcement. The inspections will be ongoing and expanded to other key tourist locations across the region. The campaign aims to enhance safety, curb the exploitation of tourists, and reinforce Thailand's international image as a secure marine tourism destination.

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The operation was only the beginning of efforts to regulate jet ski services in Phuket under his policy to raise service standards alongside strict law enforcement.