Floating economy: The famous rafts have become a magnet for tourism in Kanchanaburi province. (Photos by Piyarach Chongcharoen)

With two rivers, Kwai Yai and Kwai Noi, running through urban areas, residents of Kanchanaburi province have always had a close bond with waterways. A testament to this is the existence of the rafts that are ubiquitous throughout the region.

Rafts were once home to Thais who lived along the river. Most, however, moved to live in houses built inland after the urbanisation which took place over half a century ago. Rafts are now only really prominent in a few provinces.

Kanchanaburi is one of them. Yet visitors will be let down if they want to see people living on floating dwellings, like the boathouses in the Netherlands.

As times have changed, the rafts in Kanchaburi have taken on new purposes. Most now serve as commercial space -- restaurants, hotels or even pubs catering to tourists who come to enjoy the natural scenery of this westernmost province.

The rising number of tourism operators offering raft-related services might be good for local business, but it brings the provincial authority headaches.

Troubled waters: Last September, police raided a bar on one of the rafts and arrested three customers on suspicion of illegal drug use.

Some of these businesses are illegal or in violation of the law governing land use along the river.

The provincial authority has made many attempts to regulate these rafts, but with little success.

Last year, the province renewed these efforts and there have been positive signs after more local raft operators showed a willingness to become compliant.

There are currently as many as 80 operators of raft-based hospitality services on the rivers spanning 500 rafts, most of which are tourism-related businesses. Some operate without business licences, according to Kanchanaburi provincial governor Chirakiat Phumsawat.

Ratchaphat Krachangchai, president of an association of Kanchanaburi's raft operators, said members of the association would like to cooperate with the province and legitimise their businesses.

"We believe the raft regulating policy will lead to better control of the rafts in Kanchanaburi province. Those who obey laws have better business opportunities because they will be able to seek loans from banks to fund renovation and expansion," she told the Bangkok Post.

Water beds: Raft hotels are popular among many tourists to the province. (Photo by Karnjana Aryuwattanachai)

Most owners are local business people, and some are also natives whose families have been dwelling in rafts for decades, or even a century or more.

Not all of them have enough money to keep their floats in pristine condition. But if they get their rafts registered, they stand to become eligible for development loans of up to 1 million baht, according to Ms Ratchaphat.

The rafts are one of the key tourist features of Kanchanaburi. Only a two-hour drive from Bangkok to the province's municipality, tourists can enjoy cultural and historical sites as well as the natural landscapes along the rivers.

Enjoying a river view while eating an authentic Thai meal at one of the restaurants situated on these rafts is an easy experience to sell to tourists who visit the area.

"We believe that the province's attempt to regulate its raft businesses will improve both the safety and experience for tourists -- Thais and foreigners alike," said Mr Chirakiat.

The Kanchanaburi provincial governor said the province is working on a plan to regulate the rafts along Kwai Noi, Kwai Yai and Mae Klong Rivers.

These rivers pass through municipal and urban areas of the province.

Business boost: Rafts in Kanchanaburi province have been converted from homes into restaurants or even hotels to accommodate tourists.

The plan has been divided into three parts.

First, floating houses that are illegally occupying the rivers will be removed.

Under the law, only rafts that occupy less than a fifth of the width of the river will be permitted to remain.

Second, rafts that block views of the river and obstruct water draining from the dam will also be relocated.

Finally, the aim is to find new sights for the relocated rafts, the owners of many of which have been living on them for most of their lives.

Mr Chirakiat is discussing with Muang Kanchanaburi municipality and the Treasury Department a plan to find land along or even near the river to be leased out to people owning the 50 most problematic floating houses.

The owners are willing to move, but they asked the provincial authority to find land for them to move to where they can continue to operate their businesses.

The province will fork out 20 million baht to fund the housing project and the budget will be recouped from rental fees.

The province is going to hold bidding for a contractor soon. After the winner is announced, the construction of new housing will start right away and take just two months to complete.

As of now, Mr Chirakiat said owners of rafts that are required to move will be asked to relocate to Sai Kai canal, adjacent to the Somdet Phrayanasangwon Public Park in the municipality.

The rafts will not be destroyed, the provincial governor insisted. The authority will use them at public raft docking stations and lease them to the public for rafting and recreational purposes.

In addition, the province is finding another site along the river to convince some legal owners, whose rafts are docked in a disorderly fashion along other sections of Kwai Yai and Kwai Noi Rivers, to move to.

Both rivers run through areas where government offices, central hospitals, schools and commercial sites are located.

The authority will build a dock station with better facilities and infrastructure for these raft operators.

Mr Chirakiat said the public will begin to see the physical manifestation of this new initiative from July onwards.