A cable car link from Patong to the Big Buddha is to be discussed this week as the Governor of Phuket considers infrastructure options for the island's future needs as a tourism hot spot.

The suggestion for a cable car is being made by the same company that would like to build a light-rail service between Phuket International Airport and Phuket City.

Planning for both projects remains in the early development phase.

The company putting both proposals was reluctant to discuss either project until after meeting with the Governor this week.

However, the Governor has already made it known that he supports the concept of a light-rail service between the airport and Phuket City.

The cable car and the fast-rail fall into the same category as the two-billion-baht (or more) Patong Hill tunnel.

All three concepts would require large construction budgets, with the Phuket administration unable to meet costs without private funding or financial support from the national government.

A prominent economist, visiting from Bangkok, suggested earlier this month that Phuket needs to impose a tax on tourists to pay for the projects it clearly needs.

The economist believes an additional tax of 100 baht on foreigners and Thai tourists would raise 500 million.

The governor has mentioned another suggestion from the economist: an increase in the service charge in restaurants from 10 percent to 12 percent.

But why should people who eat in restaurants pay for infrastructure used by everyone? How would the extra two percent be kept separate?

And what about restaurants where there is no service charge? Would their patrons be barred from using the infrastructure?

--More at www.phuketwan.com

A cable car link from Patong to the Big Buddha is to be discussed this week as the Governor of Phuket considers infrastructure options for the island's future needs as a tourism hot spot.

The suggestion for a cable car is being made by the same company that would like to build a light-rail service between Phuket International Airport and Phuket City.

Planning for both projects remains in the early development phase.

The company putting both proposals was reluctant to discuss either project until after meeting with the Governor this week.

However, the Governor has already made it known that he supports the concept of a light-rail service between the airport and Phuket City.

The cable car and the fast-rail fall into the same category as the two-billion-baht (or more) Patong Hill tunnel.

All three concepts would require large construction budgets, with the Phuket administration unable to meet costs without private funding or financial support from the national government.

A prominent economist, visiting from Bangkok, suggested earlier this month that Phuket needs to impose a tax on tourists to pay for the projects it clearly needs.

The economist believes an additional tax of 100 baht on foreigners and Thai tourists would raise 500 million.

The governor has mentioned another suggestion from the economist: an increase in the service charge in restaurants from 10 percent to 12 percent.

But why should people who eat in restaurants pay for infrastructure used by everyone? How would the extra two percent be kept separate?

And what about restaurants where there is no service charge? Would their patrons be barred from using the infrastructure?

--More at www.phuketwan.com

Oh yeah, can't use all that cash from property/real estate taxes, have to charge the tourists.............what a joke...

They can't even maintain tyres on public buses. How are they going to maintain a cable car system?

http://www.phuketgazette.net/news/index.asp?id=6746

It was not a public bus!

ARS tour is a private company and they serve many companies here in Phuket.

Gerd

How are they going to maintain a cable car system?

They will hire Swiss, Austrians, French and Italians to do the job including rescue teams and helicopters

nice !

sometimes they crash

sometimes they rescue passengers with helicopters

Don't worry: 99% of the time it's safe

LaoPo

Patong to big buddha? The worlds longest cable car ever and they might raise 500m if they could get an extra tax imposed.? That would cover the first ten compo claims.

Never mind the appaling H+S here that would guarentee a disaster within a year

Never in a million years.

IF they really wanted to do a cable car to the Big Buddha, they should do it from the top of Kata hill (the highest point between Chalong and Kata)

I hiked up to Big Buddha from there last week. It didn't take more than an hour and was a great (although steep) hike.

It would probably cost 20% of the price building one from Patong.