Phuket Andaman Culture Festival deferred until December

PHUKET: The deputy chief of the Phuket Provincial Public Relations Department Sophon Kiemkarn today confirmed to the Phuket Gazette that the Andaman Culture Festival, which was due to start tomorrow, has been postponed until December.

“We have yet to be informed of the exact dates when the festival will be held,” Mr Sophon told the Gazette.

Thai Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra was expected to arrive in Phuket tomorrow to officiate at the opening of the three-day festival which was to be held at the Blue Elephant restaurant in Phuket Town.

As part of her visit, PM Yingluck was to be given a tour of the Phuket Old Town and its Sino-Portuguese buildings, in line with the festival’s theme of highlighting the cultural identity of the region under the theme “Andaman – The World Experience”.

However, the Gazette was told that PM Yingluck will be in Phuket to open the festival when the organizers have finalized the dates.

“We have been told that PM Yingluck will open the festival. We are just waiting on when that will actually be,” Mr Sophon said.

— Kritsada Mueanhawong