Phuket’s ecofuture “starts here’

RAWAI: Key government and private organizations met today to start a serious campaign to protect Phuket’s environment – including Patong, which some say is already “worse than Pattaya”. Backed by the Ministry of Science, Technology and Environment, the gathering at Rawai sought cooperation across city planning, marine life protection and urban issues such as garbage recycling. Suwan Nantasarut, Director of the Department of Environment Region 11, which covers seven southern provinces, said tourism was a financial booster that also created environmental hazards. K. Suwan painted an alarming picture for the 30 representatives from community and government. “In some areas like Patong, the density of tourists is very high while development is also intense, bringing construction and pollution,” he said. “Tourists expect something different from Patong. Yesterday I talked to a tourist from Austria who was a tour guide to Phuket for more than 10 years. “She told me that things have changed a lot and that Patong is now worse than Pattaya. “She also told me that she just went to Phi Phi and couldn’t spend more than half a day there because there is nothing to appreciate any more.” Yesterday K. Suwan also met Governor CEO Pongpayome Vasaputi who reassured him that the provincial authorities were taking action, including drawing up a city plan for Kata-Karon that would be finalized within two months.