Phuket readies for Earth Hour

PHUKET: The chief of the Phuket office of the Provincial Electricity Authority (PPEA) is urging people to join the Earth Hour 2015 event this Saturday to show their support for saving the world’s energy.

“It is a very good campaign that everyone can join. You can take part while at home or work, by simply turning off unnecessary lights,” PPEA Director Paiboon Jinovut told the Phuket Gazette.

“Saving energy is always a good thing to do, at any time on any day. The more things you turn off, the more money and world energy you save.”

Earth Hour is the annual event held each March that asks hundreds of millions of people to make a difference for the planet by turning off the lights for an hour from 8:30pm.

The event has grown from its humble beginnings in Sydney eight years ago, to now include more than 7,000 cities and towns in 162 countries worldwide (see here).

There will be no official event to mark Earth Hour in Phuket, but some private businesses on the island will be playing their part.

“This is a good event to urge everyone to be aware of energy conservation,” said Kewalin Sukumjittanon, Marketing Communications Manager at the JW Marriott Phuket Beach Resort & Spa at Mai Khao.

“Our guests will be asked to join the global awareness campaign to save energy.”

Guests at the resort will be asked to turn off their room lights and join other energy-savers in the resort’s main bar and restaurant, Ms Kewalin told the Gazette.

“We will always support this event,” she added.

The Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) promoted on its website that the Amari Phuket will hold an Earth Hour spa special.

Guests are invited to be happier for a healthier planet by switching off the lights in the room and switching on happy hours with the promotion at Amari Phuket’s Breeze Spa.

From 6pm to 10pm on Saturday, guests can enjoy 90 minutes of massage treatment at discounted prices to mark the event (click here).

Jungceylon in Patong will also be taking part by turning off lights in some areas of the popular shopping mall during the hour, under the campaign “Shopaholic can help the Earth” (click here).

— Chutharat Plerin