The sand on the local beaches is of reasonable quality, provided that it is kept clean. Unfortunately, not much of it is available to the general public. Most of the space has been taken over by deckchair vendors who will charge you to sit on their chairs and then ply you with food and drink. If sitting on a deckchair is your thing, then you will be a happy bunny; but if you just want a stretch of beach then you are increasingly unlikely to find some; especially as the deckchair mafia continually increase the area of beach that they occupy.
Last year the provincial governor in Chonburi decided to do something about the situation and demanded fewer plots, which would result in less than 50% of the beach being occupied by deckchairs. Everyone ignored him. The local major made a well-publicised inspection, muttering about the need for change. Everyone ignored him.
Last month the Chonburi governor lost his patience and the Pattaya Mail reported:
The governor of Chonburi has put his own position on the line and declared that June 20 would be the final deadline for the beach concession holders to relinquish their positions on the beach and agree to the new lots, and that if he does not get backing from the Ministry of Interior for any necessary action he would resign his position and move away from the area.
The new major of Pattaya bravely stepped forward and said he agreed that something must be done to reduce the number of deckchair concessions; although he didn’t go as far as threatening to resign if nothing happened. Finally, it looked like we would get some action.
This week there was a crunch meeting at city hall attended by 300 of the deckchair mafia. It went something like this:
City Hall Official: We have proposed a reduction in the number of plots to make more of the beach accessible to the public. The time has come to implement the plan.
Mafia: Boo, Hiss!! We don’t agree.
CHO: But the Chonburi governor has staked his job on this reduction being achieved. It has to happen.
Mafia: Boo, Hiss!! We don’t agree.
CHO: Well, actually, the major spoke to the governor this morning and the whole plan has been dropped, because you don’t agree to it.
Mafia: Boo, Hiss!! We don’t agree. What? Say again? Oh. Hooray!
CHO: Now there is a new plan. You keep your plots but you have to give City Hall half of your income. Given that this is a cash based business, I think we can be flexible as to how much you declare you are going to give us, and we will certainly be flexible in declaring how much we receive.
Mafia: Nudge, nudge, wink, wink. It’s a deal.
There is, as yet, no news on the resignation of the Chonburi Governor.