Phuket - Incentivising Change

[Jenkins9039]

Like a few Thai-Visa Arm Chair critics I've been in Thailand a rather long time, seen and heard it all, and shrug my shoulders at various decisions or claims by the various Govs we've experienced over the years.

It is evident to me, no matter what the Thai Government propose, Thailand will never return to the tourism demand we've seen gradually decline, that's not to say mass tourism from China or India won't return, but general Tourism that pushes money into every nook and cranny over the island for the past two decades is or will decline.

 

Eastern Europe are now looking towards Zanzibar and East Africa (Kenya) etc, --- An amazing part of the world, and where i routinely have a holiday at least once a year to see the migration, and kite over the pristine beaches. 

 

Western Europe are now returning back to localised tourism (own country) and Spain, Greece, Italy, Gambia, Turkey etc packages as it were. 

 

US tourism to Thailand is negotiable in any vast numbers, and the only reason i suspect Thailand took so much notice of us, innitially, was down to the sheer amount of us coming from Europe over the years.

 

With possibly 3 yrs before economies are back to where they were, and people have disposable income outside of a all inclusive package holiday on a short -haul for the mass tourism sector in Europe, i fail to see how half of the places from Kamala, to Patong, to Kata, to Karon will survive, without all the other enclaves and strips across the island.

 

I'd imagine now will be much harder than the Tsunami years ago, where they had to rebuild infrastructure, resorts, and restaurants double time quick, as it comes down to lack of demand/interest in long-haul, couple with lack of money, and that's before all the hurdles one has to jump through.

 

It in my opinion would be an ideal time where the Government would incentivise the following to transform not only Thailand but Phuket.

 

:- Acquisition of land by corporations in Bangkok (stimulating local economy) with the intent to destroy what sits on it, and return to natural, minimum 20 rai, and will receive a tax deduction for their organisation, with a commitment of 50 yr natural bond.

:- installation of mass solar farms which will allow Thailand to become 'green' but also mass export electricity nationally and internationally. (aside from solar panel production is not green).

:- installation of wind-farms in the location between Phuket East and Krabi

:- concentrate on cleaning Phuket up.

:- Introduce water catchment technologies such as utilised in Israel to provide water when even droughts occur.

 

I recognise that the 1+m people that previously were in the entertainment or hospitality industry won't be provided for, but ultimately i doubt the bulk of them will organically in time, but providing a new direction for Phuket will generate skilled work in abundance in either manufacturing, construction, or management going forth.

 

Add your thoughts below on where you see Phuket going from here, or where you'd like to see it go.

 

 

 

[ChasingTheSun]

Cheer-up old sport!
 

The touristy parts of LOS will be back to normal quickly after the borders reopen, especially after an effective vaccine/therapeutic  is rolled-out.

 

The greatest news of all for Thailand is that there is still no real competition for Thailand.

[KarenBravo]

Make a wind-farm in one of the world's most beautiful sailing areas. I hope not.

[simon43]

15 hours ago, KarenBravo said:

Make a wind-farm in one of the world's most beautiful sailing areas. I hope not.

It would make an interesting obstacle course for the yachts......

[Natai Beach]

15 hours ago, KarenBravo said:

Make a wind-farm in one of the world's most beautiful sailing areas. I hope not.

And on the land-
 

On 11/10/2020 at 8:45 PM, Jenkins9039 said:

Phuket will generate skilled work in abundance in either manufacturing,

I couldn’t think of a worse place in Thailand to turn into factory area. No motorways, all the trucks have only a two lane road in and out. Mountains limit what new roads can be built. 
Traffic is bad enough just with tourists, it would be constant gridlock as an industrial hub. No deep port for cargo ships.
 

Phuket will bounce back, millions of people chomping at the bit to have a holiday after being locked down for so long now. 

[KarenBravo]

They should go with an idea that is decades old.

Make Phuket into a duty-free port and a banking centre.

[stevenl]

5 hours ago, KarenBravo said:

They should go with an idea that is decades old.

Make Phuket into a duty-free port and a banking centre.

Same as UK then, just a much nicer climate and people.

[KarenBravo]

1 hour ago, stevenl said:

Same as UK then, just a much nicer climate and people.

I think more like Singapore which I believe was the direct comparison when the idea was first mooted in the early 90's.

[Bob12345]

On 11/10/2020 at 8:45 PM, Jenkins9039 said:

:- Acquisition of land by corporations in Bangkok (stimulating local economy) with the intent to destroy what sits on it, and return to natural, ...

:- installation of mass solar farms

So on one hand you want structures to be demolished to return it to nature, while at the same time making huge solar farms which require all nature to be destroyed so it can be filled up with solar panels?

 

I live on Phuket and I am not looking forward to what solar farms and wind parks will bring: regular blackouts and a doubling in electricity costs.

Thailand has nothing to look for in that corner, not even Germany (1st world country) is able to bring reneweable energy to their country despite huge investments. Let alone that a 3rd world country like Thailand is able to do that. If you want nature you build a nuclear plant: smallest footprint, no CO2, and as long as it doesnt melt down it brings cheap energy. Or go for natural gas, as that is a relative clean energy source.

[Peterphuket]

3 hours ago, Bob12345 said:

So on one hand you want structures to be demolished to return it to nature, while at the same time making huge solar farms which require all nature to be destroyed so it can be filled up with solar panels?

 

I live on Phuket and I am not looking forward to what solar farms and wind parks will bring: regular blackouts and a doubling in electricity costs.

Thailand has nothing to look for in that corner, not even Germany (1st world country) is able to bring reneweable energy to their country despite huge investments. Let alone that a 3rd world country like Thailand is able to do that. If you want nature you build a nuclear plant: smallest footprint, no CO2, and as long as it doesnt melt down it brings cheap energy. Or go for natural gas, as that is a relative clean energy source.

Build a nuclear plant in Thailand??

Please think twice before you say that, in a Mai Pen Rai country.

[stevenl]

4 hours ago, Bob12345 said:

So on one hand you want structures to be demolished to return it to nature, while at the same time making huge solar farms which require all nature to be destroyed so it can be filled up with solar panels?

 

I live on Phuket and I am not looking forward to what solar farms and wind parks will bring: regular blackouts and a doubling in electricity costs.

Thailand has nothing to look for in that corner, not even Germany (1st world country) is able to bring reneweable energy to their country despite huge investments. Let alone that a 3rd world country like Thailand is able to do that. If you want nature you build a nuclear plant: smallest footprint, no CO2, and as long as it doesnt melt down it brings cheap energy. Or go for natural gas, as that is a relative clean energy source.

Agree with your first argument that Phuket has a lovely nature, it is that nature that we should protect.

[robblok]

 

3 hours ago, Peterphuket said:

Build a nuclear plant in Thailand??

Please think twice before you say that, in a Mai Pen Rai country.

I am also pro nuclear there are now modern installations that give off little polution (compared to the older ones) and are relatively safe. Besides it would be in Phuket im in BKK ????

 

But seriously nuclear is better then wind and solar, its far more dependable. I hope they invent nuclear fusion any time soon. I used to be against it but seems the only alternative that is quite carbon neutral and dependable.

 

But you can always let it be managed by a foreign crew or something like that.

[geisha]

The good times in Phuket will never come back. I don’t think anyone could love Phuket more than I did. The sea was clean and sparkling , the beach belonged to the people and the locals and tourists were friends .  My paradise came to an end a few years after the tsunami,  hotels sprung up everywhere and condos on every spot of free land ,unfortunately infra structure didn’t follow. Even the beautiful hills are overbuilt . Pure greed, that’s what’s left, from government officials and even local businesses unfortunately. Of course, it’s not only Phuket, I remember Hua Hin with only one condo , look at it now. They didn’t keep the charm. 

[Peterphuket]

6 hours ago, geisha said:

The good times in Phuket will never come back. I don’t think anyone could love Phuket more than I did. The sea was clean and sparkling , the beach belonged to the people and the locals and tourists were friends .  My paradise came to an end a few years after the tsunami,  hotels sprung up everywhere and condos on every spot of free land ,unfortunately infra structure didn’t follow. Even the beautiful hills are overbuilt . Pure greed, that’s what’s left, from government officials and even local businesses unfortunately. Of course, it’s not only Phuket, I remember Hua Hin with only one condo , look at it now. They didn’t keep the charm. 

I live there from 1999 until 2010 and remember in the beginning when I live there, people told me "now is it not so beauriful anymore as 20 years ago" so, they talking about 1980!

At the time I living there every year I saw the island to deteriorate.

But for the people who came in 2010 they don't know better.

I don't want to think about living there now.

And oh yes, I remember there was already an incinerator, but around 2005 it was to small already, I wonder how about now, this days?