Phuket in the mood for seafood

PHUKET: The Phuket Seafood Fiesta got underway today with an official launch at Jungceylon in Phuket’s resort town of Patong.

The festival offers a 10 to 20% discount on seafood dishes at more than 60 restaurants on the island from today through August 31, explained Bangonrat Shinaprayoon, director of the Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) regional office in Phuket.

Coinciding with HM Queen Sirikit’s birthday on August 12, also marked as Mother’s Day in Thailand, will be Phuket Lobster Week from August 12 to 21, with 22 restaurants offering discounts on lobster dishes specially prepared as part of the event.

Also on August 12 and 13 will be the Seafood Fair at Rawai Beach, with discounted seafood at participating restaurants and local fishermen offloading their catches at reduced prices.

Chefs from the Phuket Chef Club will make about 10 lobster meals on each day of the fair for people to sample for free.

They will also be on hand to cook to order any fresh seafood bought at the fair.

“This event is to stimulate the local economy and to encourage more tourists to come to Phuket during the low season,” said Ms Bangonrat at the launch this afternoon.

Phuket Vice Governor Somkiet Sangkhaosutthirak added, “There are a lot of fishermen in Phuket, so this event will not only help to support restaurants on the island, it will also help boost the incomes of our local fishermen.”

For more details about the event, visit the website PhuketSeafoodFiesta.com

— Pimwara Choksakulpan