Some 219 jet-skis operate on five Phuket beaches - Patong, Kamala, Kata, Karon and Bang Tao, the governor said. [Unauthorised jet-skis also operate without action being taken at Surin and Laem Sing beaches.Governor Tri said that strictly speaking, as from March 1 jet-skis could no longer be rented out, although the owners of the jet-skis could ride them for their own sport. Permission for the jet-ski businesses to operate on Phuket had expired, he said.Reports of scams and hundreds of thousands of baht being extorted from tourists at Patong beach have continued, honorary consuls informed a meeting with the governor and other Phuket administrators last week. Absent from that meeting was Phuripat Theerakulpisut, Chief of Phuket's Marine Office 5, who told today's meeting at Provincial Hall in Phuket City that there had only been one jet-ski crash since last year.
'We have been very successful, there has only been one accident since I returned to Phuket,'' said Khun Phuripat, choosing to remember a crash that killed two Chinese tourists but ignoring non-fatal crashes which usually lead to the scamming of tourists.Khun Phuripat told Governor Tri today that the jet-ski operators needed more time before renegotiating was necessary.In December in an interview with Phuketwan, Khun Phuripat said he was planning to write to the governor, to remind him that the previous seven-year deal was expiring, and leaving any decision on jet-skis to Phuket's administrative chief.'When we work with people, sometimes we have to talk in gentle language to help each other,'' he told Phuketwan back then. ''If no problems, there will be no change.Rip-offs of tourists have continued unabated this year, with excessive amounts being demanded of those unfortunate enough to be involved in jet-ski crashes.
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