Phuket Tourism Worries Mount Over Climate Change Impact

[webfact]

 

Phuket tourism operators are increasingly anxious about climate change's tangible consequences, affecting both Thailand and key tourist source markets through severe weather and flooding.

 

Thaneth Tantipiriyakij, president of the Phuket Tourist Association, highlights that flooding has become an annual occurrence in several areas, including Kata, Karon, and Kamala.

 

This year, landslides in Kata and Karon tragically resulted in foreign fatalities, while recent floods submerged roads in Kamala, causing inconvenience and traffic disruptions.

 

Thaneth notes that despite anticipating 500 billion baht in tourism revenue, surpassing pre-pandemic levels, Phuket's infrastructure struggles to cope with increasing tourist numbers. He expresses disappointment over the central government’s lack of action on improving water management and urban infrastructure.

 

Virintra Papakityotsaphat, president of the Tourism Council of Phuket, underscores the critical risk posed by climate-induced natural disasters. She advocates for enhanced governmental regulations, particularly against illegal constructions obstructing floodways. This would help prepare infrastructure to better withstand such events.

On a broader scale, recent global weather incidents, such as Hurricane Helene and Hurricane Milton, which recently hit Florida, illustrate the wider climate impact.

 

These events disrupt travel plans, with airlines cancelling numerous flights, potentially deterring tourists from travelling to Thailand during peak seasons. However, Virintra remains optimistic about Phuket’s diverse tourist base, attracting visitors from Russia, Europe, India, and China.

 

Siripakorn Cheawsamoot, deputy governor for marketing in Europe, the Americas, the Middle East, and Africa at the Tourism Authority of Thailand, adds that while the US travel market might experience short-term effects, Thailand aims to welcome at least 1 million US visitors this year. Furthermore, the Tourism Authority is focusing on promoting Thailand as a sustainable, eco-friendly travel destination, reported Bangkok Post.

 

Picture courtesy: MGR online

 

-- 2024-10-12

 

 

[RickyJB]

8 hours ago, webfact said:

 

Phuket tourism operators are increasingly anxious about climate change's tangible consequences, affecting both Thailand and key tourist source markets through severe weather and flooding.

 

Thaneth Tantipiriyakij, president of the Phuket Tourist Association, highlights that flooding has become an annual occurrence in several areas, including Kata, Karon, and Kamala.

 

This year, landslides in Kata and Karon tragically resulted in foreign fatalities, while recent floods submerged roads in Kamala, causing inconvenience and traffic disruptions.

 

Thaneth notes that despite anticipating 500 billion baht in tourism revenue, surpassing pre-pandemic levels, Phuket's infrastructure struggles to cope with increasing tourist numbers. He expresses disappointment over the central government’s lack of action on improving water management and urban infrastructure.

 

Virintra Papakityotsaphat, president of the Tourism Council of Phuket, underscores the critical risk posed by climate-induced natural disasters. She advocates for enhanced governmental regulations, particularly against illegal constructions obstructing floodways. This would help prepare infrastructure to better withstand such events.

 

On a broader scale, recent global weather incidents, such as Hurricane Helene and Hurricane Milton, which recently hit Florida, illustrate the wider climate impact.

 

These events disrupt travel plans, with airlines cancelling numerous flights, potentially deterring tourists from travelling to Thailand during peak seasons. However, Virintra remains optimistic about Phuket’s diverse tourist base, attracting visitors from Russia, Europe, India, and China.

 

Siripakorn Cheawsamoot, deputy governor for marketing in Europe, the Americas, the Middle East, and Africa at the Tourism Authority of Thailand, adds that while the US travel market might experience short-term effects, Thailand aims to welcome at least 1 million US visitors this year. Furthermore, the Tourism Authority is focusing on promoting Thailand as a sustainable, eco-friendly travel destination, reported Bangkok Post.

 

Picture courtesy: MGR online

 

-- 2024-10-12

 

 

How about investing some money on proper drainage, flood defences instead of just thinking about the dollars coming in.  Serious over building and destroying nature wont help . 

[Andrew65]

Potentially an even bigger problem for Bangkok. (At least Phuket has quite a lot of higher ground).

Is Phuket starting to suffer from 'overtourism' anyway?

Edited October 12 by Andrew65

[spidermike007]

However, Virintra remains optimistic about Phuket’s diverse tourist base, attracting visitors from Russia, Europe, India, and China.

 

And this is exactly the problem, Thailand is attracting lower quality tourists these days. On a recent trip to Phuket all I saw were Russians, Arabs, Indians, Malaysians and a few Chinese here and there. Barely any Europeans, Americans or Canadians. The market has completely shifted and it's not a shift to affluent tourists. Combine that with massive over development and the influx of Russian and Chinese gangsters and you have some major problems. 

[Srikcir]

TAT just needs to rebrand Phuket as the Venice of Thailand.

[KCPhuket]

Really? It's climate change and not all the concrete? $$$$

 

Limiting development is easier than changing the weather.

[macxxxx]

The officials in Phuket doing everything for the Premium Quality Tourist visiting the land of smile and for the expats too

[818Pilot]

6 minutes ago, RickyJB said:

How about investing some money on proper drainage, flood defences instead of just thinking about the dollars coming in.  Serious over building and destroying nature wont help . 

I totally agree, but they only seem to think about tourist revenue in all of their 1/2 thought out plans. I wouldn’t send my worst enemy to Phuket, there is nothing Thai left to the place 

[MalcolmB]

5 minutes ago, spidermike007 said:

Barely any Europeans, Americans or Canadians.

The Americans complain too much. 
Better off without them.

Hopefully Trump will build his wall and keep them all in.

[ronster]

So now due to mass clearing of hillsides etc for development everywhere they are blaming landslides and flooding on climate change !! 🙄🙈

Never seen a country like this where almost nobody will accept they are at fault when something goes wrong .

[Rimbuman]

FEAR! Same old tricks keep on scoring effect, doesn't it?

[norsurin]

12 minutes ago, spidermike007 said:

However, Virintra remains optimistic about Phuket’s diverse tourist base, attracting visitors from Russia, Europe, India, and China.

 

And this is exactly the problem, Thailand is attracting lower quality tourists these days. On a recent trip to Phuket all I saw were Russians, Arabs, Indians, Malaysians and a few Chinese here and there. Barely any Europeans, Americans or Canadians. The market has completely shifted and it's not a shift to affluent tourists. Combine that with massive over development and the influx of Russian and Chinese gangsters and you have some major problems. 

I agree.The biggest problem is the criminals from the countries u mentioned.They know it but don't care.

[Andrew65]

15 minutes ago, spidermike007 said:

However, Virintra remains optimistic about Phuket’s diverse tourist base, attracting visitors from Russia, Europe, India, and China.

 

And this is exactly the problem, Thailand is attracting lower quality tourists these days. On a recent trip to Phuket all I saw were Russians, Arabs, Indians, Malaysians and a few Chinese here and there. Barely any Europeans, Americans or Canadians. The market has completely shifted and it's not a shift to affluent tourists. Combine that with massive over development and the influx of Russian and Chinese gangsters and you have some major problems. 

"...influx of Russian and Chinese gangsters". Combine that with a very weak rule of law in Thailand.

[Andrew65]

30 minutes ago, Franky0815 said:

In addition, the tourism authority is focusing on promoting Thailand as a sustainable, eco-friendly destination, the Bangkok Post reported... 

 

There is no more sarcasm than this! 

They also promote Pattaya as "Family-friendly"?

[Andrew65]

21 minutes ago, norsurin said:

I agree.The biggest problem is the criminals from the countries u mentioned.They know it but don't care.

When I worked in Saudi one of my Indian friends & colleagues said that it's well known in India that many from India's 'underworld' hang-out or live in Thailand.

Edited October 12 by Andrew65

[JustinCredible]

Does this mean that they finally realize that Climate Change is real?

[Captain Flack]

A post not in English post has been removed

[LBFM1]

Can't accept that seasonal flooding is "Climate Change".  August, September, and October are the three wettest month for centuries. Blaming Climate Change sounds like someone looking for something.  Phuket is rapidly becoming a Straits mega city, surpassing Penang and now second only to Singapore. It  will soon' if not already,be one urban metropolis.  Phuket needs to find a secondary reason to exist beyond tourism.

[MikeandDow]

49 minutes ago, RickyJB said:

How about investing some money on proper drainage, flood defences instead of just thinking about the dollars coming in.  Serious over building and destroying nature wont help . 

But what a about Defense Thailand needs to defend itself they need a Sub. New planes 

[MikeandDow]

3 minutes ago, LBFM1 said:

Can't accept that seasonal flooding is "Climate Change".  August, September, and October are the three wettest month for centuries. Blaming Climate Change sounds like someone looking for something.  Phuket is rapidly becoming a Straits mega city, surpassing Penang and now second only to Singapore. It  will soon' if not already,be one urban metropolis.  Phuket needs to find a secondary reason to exist beyond tourism.

Climate change refers to long-term shifts in temperatures and weather patterns. Such shifts can be natural, due to changes in the sun’s activity or large volcanic eruptions. But since the 1800s, human activities have been the main driver of climate change, primarily due to the burning of fossil fuels like coal, oil and gas, burning fields. climate change is making it worse 

There is No water management Plan implemented, happens every year  and all the government do is moan how they will fix next time

[AndreasHG]

43 minutes ago, spidermike007 said:

Thailand is attracting lower quality tourists these days

 

Thailand geographic location is what it is.

It has never exclusively attracted high quality tourists in first place. Already 25 years ago Khaosan Road was full of Western backpackers and travellers of dubious economic wealth. These tourists are still visiting Thailand. However, the combined effect of the emergence of low-cost airlines, the growing disposable income available to Russians, due the demise of Communism, Chinese, Indians (and Malaysians, Indonesians, Bangladeshi), their sheer number (over 3 billion just considering China and India) and proximity, has diluted the presence of Western travellers so much, that they are now almost invisible.

For your reference, the number of foreign visitors setting foot in Thailand grew from approximately 8.5 million in 1999 to over 38 million in 2019 (the chart below is from Wikipedia). Thailand expects to receive 80 million visitors in 2027, further amplifying this phenomenon. 

 

 

[Purdey]

The whole population of Thailand is about 0.875% of the world. Nothing they can do alone will stop global warming. It requires a global initiative. 

[Frankie baby]

She advocates for enhanced governmental regulations, particularly against illegal constructions obstructing floodways. This would help prepare infrastructure to better withstand such events.

 

When the going was good & everybody was cashing in on the hillside land-sales. Just what did they think the developers were going to do with the land - plant rubber trees?

[cjinchiangrai]

3 minutes ago, AndreasHG said:

 

Thailand geographic location is what it is.

It has never exclusively attracted high quality tourists in first place. Already 25 years ago Khaosan Road was full of Western backpackers and travellers of dubious economic wealth. These tourists are still visiting Thailand. However, the combined effect of the emergence of low-cost airlines, the growing disposable income available to Russians, due the demise of Communism, Chinese, Indians (and Malaysians, Indonesians, Bangladeshi), their sheer number (over 3 billion just considering China and India) and proximity, has diluted the presence of Western travellers so much, that they are now almost invisible.

For your reference, the number of foreign visitors setting foot in Thailand grew from approximately 8.5 million in 1999 to over 38 million in 2019 (the chart below is from Wikipedia). Thailand expects to receive 80 million visitors in 2027, further amplifying this phenomenon. 

 

 

The Khao San backpackers don't carry guns and run extortion rackets.

[AndreasHG]

2 minutes ago, cjinchiangrai said:

The Khao San backpackers don't carry guns and run extortion rackets.

 

I know and I hear it a lot: "when I was young the world was so much better"...

Truth is, there has always been a fair share of crime, sometimes really ugly crime. We only lost memory of it.

Charles Sobhraj - Wikipedia

 

[lavender19]

I live on Phuket for nine years many years ago. It's always had floods and and landslides. More to do the blocking of klongs and building on hillsides Nothing to do with the BS climate change

[cjinchiangrai]

1 minute ago, lavender19 said:

I live on Phuket for nine years many years ago. It's always had floods and and landslides. More to do the blocking of klongs and building on hillsides Nothing to do with the BS climate change

It could be both.

[Phil1964]

1 hour ago, ronster said:

So now due to mass clearing of hillsides etc for development everywhere they are blaming landslides and flooding on climate change !! 🙄🙈

Never seen a country like this where almost nobody will accept they are at fault when something goes wrong .

Thai way - They don't want to admit and thus lose face.

 

[cjinchiangrai]

5 minutes ago, AndreasHG said:

 

I know and I hear it a lot: "when I was young the world was so much better"...

Truth is, there has always been a fair share of crime, sometimes really ugly crime. We only lost memory of it.

Charles Sobhraj - Wikipedia

 

True, are Thai extortion rackets better than Russian or Chinese extortion rackets? I would never start a business in Phuket. The locals are overwhelmed but nobody from Bangkok is paying attention.

[hotchilli]

4 hours ago, webfact said:

Phuket tourism operators are increasingly anxious about climate change's tangible consequences, affecting both Thailand and key tourist source markets through severe weather and flooding.

Roll with the changes like everyone else.