Authorities in Pattaya will introduce a zoning policy for traders doing business along the beach to improve the resort city's tourist image.
Maj Gen Nirundon Sudsakorn, commander of the 14th Military Circle, who chairs a panel overseeing beach regulations in Pattaya, said yesterday officials were drawing up a zoning plan to regulate trade on or next to the beach.
This would include tighter controls on deckchair and umbrella rentals to allow more public space on the beach, he said.
There are about 120 vendors renting out umbrellas and chairs along the 2,920-metre stretch of Pattaya beach.
About 1,161 metres of the beach, which accounts for about 38% of its total area, is occupied by vendors and the rest is public space.
The regulations will free up about 20% more of open space along the beach, he said.
Maj Gen Nirundon also said trading along the beach will be banned on Wednesdays.
Many vendors will be affected by the regulations as they will have less space in which to do business, he said.
Maj Gen Nirundon said vendors should understand the need to look after the beach in order to draw more tourists to Pattaya.
The initiative follows similar ones along Bang Saen beach, also in Chon Buri, Phuket and beaches in Prachuap Khiri Khan.
The rules are part of government efforts to stamp out encroachment on beaches, many of which are also part of forest reserves.
Meanwhile, Phuket deputy governor Somkiet Sungkwaosuttiruk, who chairs a committee overseeing beaches in Muang district, yesterday toured Karon Beach to see whether venders were ready to comply with a new zoning policy in which trading will be restricted to 10% of the beach area.
The new regulations come into effect on Monday, he said.