Two Russian vacationers had been fined 20,000 baht for jet snowboarding in Krabi province, in southern Thailand, the place the watersport is prohibited in accordance with the province’s environmental protection measures.
Jet skis and all other forms of motorised water sports activities are banned in Krabi province to protect the environment, but two Russian vacationers say there were not conscious of the rule.
Yesterday, boat operators took photos of two overseas tourists jet skiing close to Hong Island off the coast of Krabi.
This morning, Krabi Harbour officers went to Laem Pong Bay in Nong Thale subdistrict to seek out two jet skis in the sea.
A 47 year previous Russian man told the officials that it was he and his wife using the jet skis yesterday. He mentioned they drove to Krabi from Pattaya, towing the 2 jet skis behind their vehicle.
He said neither he nor his wife knew that jet skiing was against Krabi province’s rules.
The harbour officers confirmed that both jet skis are registered in Pattaya as the Russian tourist said.
The officers took the Russian man to Krabi Provincial Harbour Office, where they fined him 10,000 baht per jet ski for violating Krabi province’s Environmental Control Act.
The officials additionally contacted the “relevant agencies” about taking further authorized action.
In the tourists’ defence, Thailand’s jet snowboarding guidelines are confusing. In Stunning , it’s allowed. In Phuket, it’s allowed on some beaches – Patong, Karon, Kata, Kamala, and Bang Tao and never others, e.g., Surin Beach.
However, many tourists not hassle with jet snowboarding after listening to jet ski rip-off tales.
It is typical for tourists to lease jet skis only to be advised upon returning them that the jet skis are damaged. On Bang Tao seashore, one jet ski operator allegedly requested two Chinese tourists for 200,000 baht for “repairs.”