Phuket

Gov sparks furore with Phi Phi proposal

Published

18 years ago

November 12, 2001

Gov sparks furore with Phi Phi proposal | The Thaiger

PHUKET: Governor CEO Pongpayome Vasaputi has landed in the middle of a war of words after suggesting that the central government should buy the Phi Phi islands, kick out private businesses and run the islands as a state enterprise. During a speech about the CEO system at a Thai Rak Thai Party seminar on Friday at the Patong Beach Hotel, Gov Pongpayome said, “At the moment many islands are not as beautiful as they used to be. The government should buy them; Phi Phi and other tourist centers should belong to the nation. “Some of the private businesses there cause a lot of damage to the islands and then, after the damage has been done, the government has to fix it. “That’s not right. The best thing would be for the government to buy the islands and then run them itself,” he said. He proposed that, after buying the islands, the government should manage them like a state enterprise, taking care of all businesses initially and letting private operators open again only after “everything is under control”. “It’s lucky that about half of the islands are national park, so buying the land back should cost about 3 billion to 4 billion baht,” he pointed out. Gov Pongpayome’s idea got a scathing reception from Saritpong Kiewkong, Vice-President of the Krabi Provincial Organization Administration (OrBorJor) and owner of the Phi Phi Pavilion Resort. K. Saritpong told the Gazette today, “The Governor of Phuket must be dreaming. He should concern himself only with Phuket Province. I think he must have lost his map.” Many islands in Phuket province, K. Saritpong said, were dirtier than Phi Phi, and Gov Pongpayome should take care of his own backyard before talking about other provinces that are outside his jurisdiction. “Gov Pongpayome has complained that Phi Phi is like a garbage dump. But many islands in Phuket Province, such as Koh Loan and Koh Hei, are like septic tanks,” he said. “The problems in Phi Phi are not caused by the private sector. They are the result of poor law enforcement and a few selfish businessmen. “Local people here are not dreamers like the Governor of Phuket. They think that the government should first take care of basic facilities in Phi Phi, such as power, water, a jetty, sanitation, good walkways, an incinerator, and proper policing,” K. Saritpong said. An incinerator and a water treatment plant were installed many years ago on Phi Phi Don by the central government but have never worked properly because, say locals, no one was taught how to use them properly. A dam to store drinking water, also built by the central government, leaks, despite being repaired three times. “When Gov Pongpayome says that there’s a lot of garbage in the sea around Phi Phi, he is striking a blow at the heart of tourism in Phi Phi,” K. Saritpong said. “I don’t understand why he didn’t discuss the issues privately with those concerned, instead of making them public through the media. “If I were dreaming like the Phuket Governor, I think it would be better for us to sell Phuket Island – it’s more famous, so we could get a lot more money for it and repay Thailand’s IMF loans.” But the local director of the Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT), Anupharp Thirarath, told the Gazette that he thought a government purchase of Phi Phi would be a fine idea. Pointing out that the Phi Phi Islands attract about 800,000 tourists a year, he said, “Phi Phi has many problems. It is a very beautiful place, but because of encroachment and disorder, its value has been wasted. “If it is possible to reorganize everything and redevelop the Phi Phi Islands, they would become a valuable and classy tourist destination in the future.”

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People

‘Always Smile Journey’ raises fund to provide free English classes for underprivileged people

Published

1 day ago

October 15, 2019

Nattha Thepbamrung

‘Always Smile Journey’ raises fund to provide free English classes for underprivileged people | The Thaiger

On October 18, the ‘Always Smile Journey’ group and its partners will host an exhibition with plenty of fun activities at the Yak Yai Market, near Chalong Circle, in Phuket. This event was designed to raise funds to provide free English classes for underprivileged people on the island of Phuket on Saturdays and Sundays. The group does not accept donations but aims to raise money through the sales of the products available at the event.

From 2 pm to 8 pm, there will be a number of artists, musicians and performers who will keep the attendees entertained along the way. There will be a short film about His Majesty King Rama 9 as well as fun activities and games for kids and families, which are all free of charge.

The big bike crew is also a part of this event. They will ride a parade from Rawai Beach heading to the market and showcase their gorgeous two-wheel buddies.

One of the highlights of the Always Smile Journey exhibition is the ‘Happening’ artists group, who will draw and paint a picture of the His Majesty King Rama 9 under the name ‘Street Art King Bhumibol’ on a 4×10 meter sign live at the event so the guests will experience this large-scale art in action. The Happening will also offer portrait sketching for the participants.

‘Always Smile Journey’ raises fund to provide free English classes for underprivileged people | News by The Thaiger

One of the works created by the Happening team; a painting of HM the King Rama 9 on a huge wall (Photo credit: Chawat Chumpasan)

There will also be some western menus available at the event which will be donated to underprivileged children.

This free English class project has over seven years of experience through its cooperation working with individuals and other charity organizations. Throughout the years, the group visited several areas such as Ban Laem Hoy School, Ban Bopud School and Ban Angthong School in Samui, Surat Thani province, Ban Bueng Ao Oun School and Ban Kakoh Rayong, in Surin province, Jalae Village of Lahu (Muser) in Chiang Rai province, as well as community education centers in Siem Reap, Cambodia and in Luang Prabang, in Laos.

This event is a cooperation between several groups, including Happening, Yak Yai Market and Arrow Media, Tattoo artist group, Thonburi Art School Alumni, International School of Tourism, Suratthani Rajabhat University, big bike group from Phuket, artists/performers/musicians from many provinces as well as several businesses across Phuket.

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Bangkok

The world’s fastest growing tourist destinations

Published

1 day ago

October 15, 2019

The Thaiger

PHOTO: Hello Phuket – destined for huge tourist growth in the next six years – fodors.com

In 2018, international tourist arrival traffic grew by 6% to reach a total of 1.4 billion world tourists, according to research by UNWTO World Tourism Barometer. And there’s a lot more to come with international travel predicted to increase by a massive 35% over the next six years to 2025.

But where is all that extra traffic going to go? Which destinations are quiet now that might be swarming with tourists in the years to come? Two destinations in Thailand are set for a prosperous future, according to the data. Whilst almost all the growth is excepted to be to Asian destinations, an under-visited resource for world tourism so far.

Euromonitor data has been used to simulate tourist growth models and reveal the fastest growing projected visitor arrivals in major cities and destinations around the world for 2025, compared to arrival figures in 2018.

In Thailand, Phuket’s tourist traffic is poised to increase up to 85% in the next six years, from nearly 12 million arrivals in 2018 to over 22 million in 2025. Bangkok is predicted to see the 8th most prolific rise in tourist traffic, with arrivals in Bangkok set to swell an additional 68% during the same period. Doha, the capital of Qatar, is set to explode with 104% increase in traffic over the next six years.

The data also predicts that both Bangkok and Phuket will rebound big time in 2020, Phuket in particular with a growth of around 20% for the next year, accord to the data from TravelSupermarket.com.

By 2025 the data predicts that Bangkok will be the world’s #1 tourist destination, a position it’s held before in recent years. The Thai capital will be followed by Singapore, Dubai, Phuket and Kuala Lumpur, making South East Asia the world’s emerging tourism hotspot.

Some of the world’s favourites – New York, Paris, London – will continue to grow their tourist numbers but not at the rate of most Asian destinations.

You can read the full list HERE.

Stats compiled by travelsupermarket.com

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Phuket

Rawai beachfront water shut-off tomorrow for mains works

Published

3 days ago

October 14, 2019

The Thaiger

The Phuket Provincial Waterworks Authority says Rawai’s mains water supply will be shut off tomorrow (Tuesday, October 15) as new water pipes are fitted in front of The Title Beach Front condo resort complex on the town’s beachfront.

The mains water supply will be shut off from 9am until 4:30pm along the beachfront strip.

The PWA says the areas affected will be along Wiset Road along the Rawai beachfront road, as well as Soi Yanui and Soi Ruafaed.

Residents and businesses are being urged to collect water for use during the day today, before tomorrow morning’s shut-off.

As usual, the PWA say…“We apologise for any inconvenience caused.”

Contact the Phuket Provincial Waterworks Authority on 076 319173 or 082 7901634 for more details.

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