Vice-Governor opens Wat Chalong toilets

CHALONG: Phuket Vice-Governor Tri Augkaradacha this morning chaired the opening ceremony of Wat Chalong’s new three-million-baht public restrooms, which are being hailed as “the first international-standard public toilets” in Thailand by the Office of Tourism Development.

The restrooms, built with the help of industrial manufacturing firm SCG (Thailand) Co Ltd, are to commemorate 100 years since the passing away of revered monk Luang Por Chaem, who helped treat people injured during the Angyee Rebellion of Chinese tin miners during the reign of Rama V.

The facilities comprise a total of 20 toilet stalls, two shower rooms and a toilet stall especially for disabled people.

Damrong Sangkaweelert, Director of the Tourism Authority of Thailand’s Office of Tourism Development, wrote in a press statement that the restrooms will be open 24 hours each day and kept clean by two janitors.

Wat Chalong is visited by an average of about 8,000 tourists a day, with as many as 100,000 people visiting temple grounds during special events.

A daily average of 3,000 trips to the temple toilets are made, with the number reaching as high as 8,000 visits per day during the high season, according to the press release.