Phuket

Tourism minister pledges to push B100mn Phuket Port expansion plan

Published

6 years ago

May 4, 2013

Tourism minister pledges to push B100mn Phuket Port expansion plan | The Thaiger

PHUKET: The Minister of Tourism and Sports, in Phuket to inspect the Deep Sea Port today, has pledged to push forward the 100-million-baht plan to expand Phuket’s key port facility.

“I will raise the issue with the Minister of Transportation next week,” Somsak Pureesrisak told reporters today.

Joining Mr Somsak in his visit to Phuket today was Tourism of Thailand (TAT) Governor Suraphon Svetasreni.

The plans to expand the port so it can berth two large cruise liners simultaneously, have been mired for two years for failing to pass the required environmental impact assessment (EIA) evaluation.

Sophon Muangprathub, Director of Chaophaya Terminal International Co Ltd, which has the government concession to operate Songkhla and Phuket Ports, presented Minister Somsak the history of the Deep Sea Port expansion project.

Joining him was Phuket Marine Office Chief Phuripat Theerakulpisut.

Both urged Minister Somsak to push forward the project and explained how much Phuket needs the port to be developed.

“We’ve been working on passing the EIA for two years, but every time we submit the redrafted plans we are asked to fix another problem,” Mr Sophon said.

“Please help us push forward the plan,” he urged.

Mr Sophon explained that the project, which was reported to cost more than 100 million baht, includes extending the dock by 60 meters so two large ships can berth at the same time, as well as building new facilities to receive tourists disembarking and expanding the parking lots at the site.

Mr Sophon said it would take no more than 13 months to complete the project once it passed its EIA requirements.

He explained that the Deep Sea Port was originally designed to serve cargo ships only.

“The dock is 360 meters long, which can accommodate only two ships, each not longer than 173 meters long, at the same time.

“The problem is that bigger ships are now coming to the port, especially cruise liners. So far the biggest one has been 270 meters long, which does not leave enough room for another ship,” Mr Sophon explained.

“Cruise liners were given priority to dock at the port, even if it meant forcing a cargo ship that is halfway through loading or unloading to move offshore,” he said.

Mr Phuripat explained, “We have been working for over two years on having the project pass its EIA, but it does not seem to be working. It has caused a lot of problems.

“The port is currently not able to support Phuket tourism to the best of its ability. The facility needs to be developed,” he repeated.

Minister Somsak agreed with the plan presented to him.

“Phuket needs to be able to support more cruise liners so more cruise liners can dock here and stay for more than just a day trip,” he said.

“We have to identify which departments we must discuss this with so we can push forward the plan. On May 10, I have a meeting with the Minister of Transportation, and this plan will be raised,” Minister Somsak vowed.

Mr Somsak is in Phuket as part of his “fact-finding” tour of Phuket, Phang Nga and Krabi provinces to identify ways the government can help support tourism development along the Andaman seaboard.

Tonight, Mr Somsak and TAT Governor Suraphon will attend a meeting to hear other concepts to support Phuket tourism development, at the Radisson BLU Plaza Resort Phuket Panwa Beach.

Phuket Governor Maitri Inthusut will attend to welcome the minister.

— Chutharat Plerin

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News

30 dolphins greet visitors to Similan Islands

Published

6 hours ago

October 21, 2019

Greeley Pulitzer

30 dolphins greet visitors to Similan Islands | The Thaiger

Tourists were treated to the sight of a school of dolphins in the Similan Islands off the Phang Nga coast on Sunday.

Tour organisers said that around 30 dolphins swam close to the boat six or seven miles offshore, creating excitement for passengers. It was the first time dolphins had been seen in the vicinity since October 15.

The Similan Islands National Park director said they were bottlenose dolphins and were among several species now returning to the area following a five-year closure of the park for environmental rehabilitation. Food is again plentiful there for them, he said.

Tourists are forbidden to feed wildlife lest the free handouts alter the animals’ natural behaviour, and the park’s waters are also very sensitive to contamination from human disease and marine debris, according to the director.

SOURCE: nationthailand.com

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Patong

Phuket hotels slashing the price of rooms

Published

9 hours ago

October 21, 2019

The Thaiger

by Sophie Deviller

Hotels on Thailand’s most popular holiday island are being forced to slash prices, with rooms left vacant and beaches sparse as Thailand’s tourism chiefs struggle with a plunge in Chinese visitors caused by the US trade war and a stronger baht. Phuket was the most visited destination in the country last year, after Bangkok, and a good gauge of the state of its crucial travel industry.

Tourism accounts for 18% of Thailand’s gross domestic product and Chinese holidaymakers make up more than a quarter of total arrivals. But while 2.2 million people from the country visited in 2018, according to official figures, the numbers for January-September were down almost 20% year on year.

Claude de Crissey, the French Honorary Consul in Phuket and owner of about 40 rooms in the Patong Beach area, says Chinese tourists are usually present even during the current low season.

“That was not the case this year,” he said, adding he had to lower his prices by as much as 50%.

The problem is not only in Phuket, with hotels also struggling to fill rooms in the seaside resort of Pattaya on the mainland and on Koh Samui.

Trade tensions with the US have already made some Chinese reluctant to take holidays owing to uncertainty back home, while the Thai baht has risen about 10% against the yuan this year.

A boating disaster off Phuket’s coast that killed 47 Chinese holidaymakers in July 2018 also scared some off.

“We are worried,” said an industry insider, declining to be named due to the sensitivity of the topic in a country where tourism provides tens of thousands of jobs. Adding to the headache is the fact that more than 3,000 new hotel rooms are being constructed on the island, raising the question of who will fill them.

“In terms of business, it’s not good,” said Kongsak Khoopongsakorn, vice-president of the association of hotels in Thailand and director of Vijitt Resort.

“Because … we have more hotels, more rooms to sell, we have more restaurants, more coffee shops.”

Still, tourism authority chairman Yuthasak Supasorn said he remained “optimistic.”

“We should reach our goal of 39.8 million foreign visitors.”

However, that is only up from 38.2 million in 2018, much less than the jump seen from the previous year’s total of 35.6 million.

Counting on India

Now hoteliers and tour package operators are targeting visitors from elsewhere, particularly India, which experts see as a huge untapped market.

A rapid expansion of the middle class in India, increased direct flights and visa-free travel have prompted Thailand to revise forecasts upwards.

It now expects two million Indian tourists this year, after an increase of nearly 25% on-year in the first seven months. But for now, the lower arrivals is evident on the streets of Phuket.

“I’ve never seen anything as bad as what it is at the moment,” said Paul Scott from Australia, who said he has been coming to Thailand for 15 years.

He mainly blamed the stronger baht for the drop-off but also the fact that Thailand wasn’t the untouched vacation paradise it once was. “Now it’s not so new … and it’s not cheap,” he said.

SOURCE: AFP

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Events

The 15th Mai Khao Marine Turtle fun run attracts more than 4,000 runners

Published

22 hours ago

October 20, 2019

The Thaiger

4,000 runners from Thailand and overseas took part in the 15th Mai Khao Marine Turtle Fun Run and Half Marathon 2019 yesterday, starting from the Phuket Gateway.

The event is expected to raise 700,000 baht for the charity, now in its 15th year. The money raised goes towards to The Mai Khao Marine Turtle Foundation, which is committed to protecting the marine and coastal environment, and ecosystems, for the wellbeing of sea turtles that nest in the Mai Khao beach and the surrounding areas.

The annual race also provides funds for thePhuket Marine Biological Centre’s Injured Turtle Rehabilitation Program and The Third NavalArea Command’s Turtle Hatchery Program.

The race was in its 15th year and runners of all ages and abilities took part in the race. The morning’s racing was divided into five categories – the 21.1km half marathon, 10.5km mini- marathon, 5km fun run and 3k family run and VIP participants for all the races. The route of 21.1 kilometre race took runners northwest along the Haad Sai Kaew beach towards Thao Thepkasattri bridge, past the rural road No. 3006, run along the road – Pi Lai viewpoint area returned back along the T. Baan Tha Nun to the iconic Sarasin bridge before finished the half marathon in the Phuket Gateway.

For Mini Marathon 10.5 km – Over all category, Mr. Chinnawat Changlek clocked 39 minutes and 40 seconds to clinch victory in the male half marathon, winning prize money and a trophy with the signature of Phuket’s Governor. The winner in the female mini marathon was Surakarn Wanna with a time of 47 minutes and 47 seconds.

Winners also received a prize gift voucher as well as a medal. Congratulations to all participants.

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