On Feb. 19, two tourists were spotted jet skiing near Hong Island off the coast of Krabi and were captured on camera by Thai boat operators.
A 47-year-old Russian man later admitted to the authorities that he and his wife were the ones using the jet skis that day. Krabi Harbour officials found the jet skis were legally registered in Pattaya, Thailand news media reported.
The officials took the Russian man to the Krabi Provincial Harbor Office where they fined him 10,000 baht per jet ski for violating Krabi Province’s Environmental Control Act. Jet skis and all other kinds of motorized water sports are banned in the province to protect the environment, but the two Russians said they were not aware of the rule.
In Thailand, jet skiing can be legal in Pattaya or on some Phuket beaches, including Patong, Karon, Kata, Kamala, and Bang Tao, but not on others like Surin Beach.