Gov calls for “right’ Tourism Minister

PHUKET CITY: Phuket Governor Niran Kalayanamit yesterday called on the new central government to appoint a Minister of Tourism and Sports who will push through the “mega-projects” Gov Niran believes will aid Phuket’s development.

At the Phuket Provincial Security Committee meeting at Katina Hotel, Gov Niran said that after seven years as Phuket Vice-Governor and one year as Governor, Phuket still has many unresolved problems.

Having the right person as Minister of Tourism and Sports to push through big projects would see an end to the many problems Phuket is facing, he said.

“I push for solutions for all our problems, including garbage, the lack of an International Convention and Exhibition Center (ICEC) and growing traffic congestion,” he said.

There is intense speculation in the private and government sectors in Phuket over who would get the sports-and-tourism portfolio, as no other Cabinet post is of such importance to the island, he said.

“This position is very important. If we have the support of the right person, one who shares our attitude, many projects we have planned could become reality,” Gov Niran said.