Phuket Island View: Get more creative with Phuket’s image

PHUKET: I was happy to read Janpen Upatising’s article last week [Phuket Gazette: ‘Lights, camera, action for future island creativity’, February 12].

As a retired creative marketer, I can say that if there’s demand, or if you can create demand for something and supply it, you will be successful.

Phuket needs to develop at least one festival or event each month, and get behind making it a success.

A photo directory (DVD) of film shooting locations should be available to production companies. Studio space should also be made available for interior shots. It would be wise to train locals for this new concept work, rather than have labor pour in from outside.

Thai films, which are creative and well done, should be simultaneously produced in English to capture the world market.

There is a glut of Chinese junks available in Vietnam, each with several overnight cabins. Patong Bay could become a port for island hopping.

Give out gallons of paint to spruce up drab buildings in tourist areas, promote clean streets, plant lots of flowers – color, color, color. It’s fun to do, attractive, a photo opportunity and another marketing tool. Every time you turn your head it should be worth taking a picture. So much great marketing can cost little or nothing; it just takes organization and common sense.

A coordinated business effort is needed to stop Phuket from growing out of control in a money-making competition, only to destroy the island. Work together and help the less well-off join in. It can be fun if everyone feels they are a part of the process.

I’ve seen good and bad developments over the past seven years – better if it were all good.

— Tim Devlin