Operators of deckchair and umbrella concessions on Phuket’s Patong Beach are seeking permission from local authorities to double the number of chairs and umbrellas, claiming that the existing quantity is insufficient to meet the demand from the increasing number of tourists.
Currently, only 10% of the Patong Beach has been allocated to about 60 operators, under a new order to limit their domination of the entire beach, which obstruct views of the beach and sea.
The operators say that they were greatly affected by restrictions during the COVID-19 pandemic over the past three years because there were fewer tourists, adding that people are now having to queue up due to a lack of chairs.
According to the Phuket airport immigration daily report, 304,072 tourists arrived in Phuket between November 1st and December 6th. Most were Russian tourists (> 81,000), followed by about 35,000 from India, 17,000 from Australia and those from Singapore, the United Kingdom, Germany, Kazakhstan and Malaysia.
After Thailand designated COVID-19 as “disease under watch”, 1,522,615 foreign tourists arrived in Phuket between July 1st and December 6th.
