Beach Beds and Umbrellas Seen Back on Freedom Beach in Phuket Causes Controversy

Phuket –

Beach Bed Umbrella were found all over the Freedom Beach in Patong which is a nature and environment conservation area.

The Phuket Express noted that Freedom Beach has been listed as the 18th World’s Top Best Beach by the World Beach Guide 2023.

This isn’t the first time beach beds and umbrellas have caused controversy, as we point out below.

The Army Region 4 commander Lieutenant General Santi Sakuntanak inspected the beach last year. Freedom Beach has been clearly announced as a nature and environment conservation area. No one is allowed to do anything for personal benefit like set up buildings on the beach.

The beach is locally known as ‘Mai Ngao’ Beach but Freedom Beach is famously known by foreign tourists. The beach is in the area of the Nak Kerd Mountain Reserve Forest in Karon. Freedom Beach was cleared of beach beds and umbrellas and structures after a full crackdown last year.

Now for our update:

Photos of beach bed umbrellas on the Freedom Beach were posted on the MONSOON GARBAGE Facebook page and went viral on social media last week.

The Forest Department Region 12 has issued an announcement after they inspected the beach. They asked foreign beach goers seen relaxing on beach beds and umbrellas where the items came from and had the response ‘They brought those beach bed umbrellas and rented them from outside the beach’.

However, this has not diminished concern on social media with many saying vendors are just utilising a grey area to sell the beach beds and umbrellas nearby and tell the tourists to carry them to the beach versus set them up and sell them on the beach directly.

Relevant officials are reportedly considering how to resolve the situation, being aware that many tourists want to have beach chairs and umbrellas but also equally aware of the environmental concerns around them.