Deputy Mayor
Ronakit Ekasingh presides over the meeting to try and decide how to
handle the many masseuses on local beaches.
Phasakorn Channgam
It has taken nearly two years, but Pattaya City
Hall’s decision on what to do about pesky beach masseuses has finally
come down to two options: ban them entirely, or limit the pestering to
just Jomtien Beach.
At an Oct. 4 meeting, Deputy Mayor Ronakit Ekasingh
listened as city bureaucrats presented their best suggestions on new
regulations that control the swarm of masseuses on Pattaya, Wong Amat
and Jomtien beaches.
Their research, which began in January 2010,
determined that most of the “massage therapists” are working on Jomtien
Beach and, therefore, the city should either ban beach massage
altogether or limit services to Jomtien under new city rules governing
proper training, adequate equipment and mandatory registration.
Of course, both suggestions would need more study,
officials agreed.
The determination is the latest in a long-running
attempt by the city to corral the growing numbers of uncertified
masseuses soliciting business from tourists on area beaches. After years
of complaints, city officials promised to look into matter in 2009,
finally suggesting masseuses be limited to two per plot in January 2010.
Nothing was done, however, until the city formed a
committee to study the problem and options. That was April last year.
Now, 18 months later, the options have been narrowed to two. No estimate
was given on when a final decision might actually be made or action
taken.
The city has tried to register the people offering
massages on the beach. In the past year-and-a-half, 367 Jomtien
masseuses registered, but none from Pattaya or Naklua. Bureaucrats
determined about 800 are needed for Jomtien alone.
Already struggling with an embarrassing wave of scams
and extortion by beach jet ski vendors, the city said it may try to
eliminate the masseuses, who many complain are an annoyance, although
many others quite enjoy a relaxing beach massage. Ronakit said too many
vendors lack qualified skills and cause damage to city property and its
reputation.
