Visitors upset after road to beach closed
Prachuap Khiri Khan _ Tourists have cried foul after Hotel Sofitel Central Hua Hin Resort blocked a public road to the beach in order to hold a charity function in the area. Barricades were put up at 6am yesterday around the public road and would stay for the three-day event, the Hua Hin Festival & Vintage Car Parade 2006, which opens today. Access was prevented from the so-called Bazaar intersection on Damnoen Kasem road to Hua Hin beach.
Hotel security guards stationed at the fences yesterday barred tourists from entering or parking at the sealed-off section of the road. They claimed staff were still preparing for the event, which features a show of antique and classic cars and an exhibition of historic photographs of Hua Hin.
The road also normally provides parking space for tourists.
Somchai Sutthinand, a 44-year-old tourist, said the hotel has no right to close the road, adding the move disappointed visitors.
Suthipong Watcharapoolphon, also a tourist, said blocking the road led to a loss of public parking space. ''I wonder how that could do tourists any good,'' he said.
Wiboon Nimitvanit, a chief of regional tourism office 2, said no road had ever been closed during previous vintage car parades.
Hua Hin municipality chief Sirapan Kamolpramote said the hotel had not told the municipality office, which oversees the road, that it intended to seal it off.
Mr Sirapan said municipality officers would be dispatched to address public inconvenience. Hua Hin police chief Pol Gen Prapas Sompro said he had allowed the hotel to use the road as a venue for the show. A hotel staff member said the show was arranged by an event organiser firm, which was hired to oversee all aspects of the function, including the venue.
bangkok post