Two Russian tourists were fined 20,000 baht for jet snowboarding in Krabi province, in southern Thailand, where the watersport is prohibited in accordance with the province’s environmental safety measures.
Jet skis and all other forms of motorised water sports are banned in Krabi province to guard the setting, however two Russian vacationers say there were not conscious of the rule.
Yesterday, boat operators took photos of two overseas vacationers 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 search out two jet skis in the sea.
A forty seven 12 months previous Russian man advised the officials that it was he and his wife driving the jet skis yesterday. He stated they drove to Krabi from Pattaya, towing the two jet skis behind their vehicle.
He mentioned neither he nor his spouse knew that jet snowboarding was towards Krabi province’s rules.
The harbour officers confirmed that both jet skis are registered in Pattaya as the Russian tourist mentioned.
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 officers also contacted the “relevant agencies” about taking additional legal action.
In the tourists’ defence, Thailand’s jet snowboarding guidelines are confusing. In Straightforward , it’s allowed. In Phuket, it’s allowed on some seashores – Patong, Karon, Kata, Kamala, and Bang Tao and not others, e.g., Surin Beach.
However, many tourists now not trouble with jet snowboarding after hearing jet ski scam tales.
It is typical for vacationers to hire jet skis only to be told upon returning them that the jet skis are damaged. On Bang Tao seashore, one jet ski operator allegedly asked two Chinese vacationers for 200,000 baht for “repairs.”