Patong eyes giant Ferris wheel to get Phuket high season rolling

PHUKET: Phuket officials are scrambling to find a location to set up the Patong Eye, a giant Ferris wheel that is hoped to spin out fresh revenue during and after the Patong Carnival starting on December 15.

“The Patong Eye could generate money to compensate for financial losses from Thailand’s National Youth Games last year,” said Patong Deputy Mayor Chairat Sukban.

“However, at this point I can’t confirm where it will be. We are considering Loma Park [map here], as well as several other venues,” Mr Chairat said. “I originally wanted to install it at the entrance of Bangla Road near the police box, but beach vendors and other operators nearby rejected the idea.”

If officials are unable to find a location, it is very likely that the Ferris wheel will never become the “Patong Eye”, but will instead end up somewhere else in Thailand, either Chiang Mai or Siam Paragon.

“No matter what, though, it is only a temporary attraction, as it is destined for Beijing, China,” Mr Chairat said. “At one point they were considering sending it to Hong Kong, but there is already a Ferris wheel there.”

The giant Ferris wheel has the backing of a Qatar business man who is running a Dubai-based company associated with the construction of the London Eye and many other giant Ferris wheel projects around the world, Mr Chairat said.

Pushed for more information about the company, Mr Chairat said that details would be released today at the official announcement for the Patong Carnival.

— Saran Mitrarat