Senate Panel Proposes 'special Economic Zone' Status For Phuket

[george]

Senate panel proposes 'Special Economic Zone' status for Phuket

BANGKOK / PHUKET: -- A special Senate committee proposed this afternoon that the government turn Phuket into a Special Economic Zone [sEZ] for tourism to facilitate tourism developments on the island province.

Songkram Chuenban, the chairman of the ad hoc panel, said the committee made a trip to the province and found that it had a lot of problems that could inhibit the development of Phuket tourism to its full potential.

For example, the capacity of the Phuket International Airport is limited and there are not enough immigration officers to cope with the rising number of foreign tourists. The panel also found that the province's basic facilities are inadequate to service even the present level of tourists.

He said a special law should be enacted to allow the provincial administration to have more power to carry out tourism developments and to retain 30 per cent of revenue for these developments.

The idea of Phuket becoming an SEZ was first floated about 15 years ago and has cropped up almost annually ever since. However, today's senate proposal marks the first time that SEZ status has been tied specifically to tourism only.

BANGKOK / PHUKET: A special Senate committee proposed this afternoon that the government turn Phuket into a Special Economic Zone [sEZ] for tourism to facilitate tourism developments on the island province.

Songkram Chuenban, the chairman of the ad hoc panel, said the committee made a trip to the province and found that it had a lot of problems that could inhibit the development of Phuket tourism to its full potential.

For example, the capacity of the Phuket International Airport is limited and there are not enough immigration officers to cope with the rising number of foreign tourists. The panel also found that the province's basic facilities are inadequate to service even the present level of tourists.

He said a special law should be enacted to allow the provincial administration to have more power to carry out tourism developments and to retain 30 per cent of revenue for these developments.

The idea of Phuket becoming an SEZ was first floated about 15 years ago and has cropped up almost annually ever since. However, today's senate proposal marks the first time that SEZ status has been tied specifically to tourism only.

-- Phuket Gazette / The Nation 2009-03-06

[Ping]

Yes, the other thing they need to do at VTSP is extend the runway so that they can handle direct flight heavies. I'll leave the complaints about over-development to someone else...

[Zpete]

It will commercialise Phuket to the extent nobody will want to come and live here.

Imagine the BIBs, all the extra tea monies.

Developers will over develop, like a photo, not worth having it.

[Ping]

I don't think it will make much difference Pete. As we know, development has already been going on at a pace for years. If anything, I would anticipate a slowdown in response to the economic crisis. But they could certainly get on with extending that runway!

[fiddlehead]

Necessary things COULD be done. But will they?

Water capacity could be a huge problem if there is a drought year.

Sewage capacity could use a lot of help for sure. Dumping it into the sea is not the answer, aye?

Getting some educated people and engineers on a zoning board perhaps?

And of course, the traffic problems and possible solutions from the other ongoing thread on traffic safety.

Taking out the tuk tuk mafia would be a dream come true for many.

Reliable high speed internet would be nice. (wireless?) yeah, i know i'm dreaming but these are some things i'd think about if it were up to me.

[Zpete]

Yeah, Ping, I guess.

My worry is how sleepy old Chalong is changing.

On is quite excited, so would I be in her place.

Go with the flow I s'pose.

I agree with 'fiddlehead' in the main.

[Ping]

You're right. There's plenty there for them to throw some money towards if they are serious.

[barney42bb]

Sounds like something the UK Parliament does..only its a Special Select Committee.

Hmmmm...... will take more than 15 years to sort Phukets irreversible problems.. to wit

Corruption..Scams..over development...over pricing...irritating polluting jet ski beaches beset Phuket over the years...and been overcome.

How exactly does one replace natural beauty to the acres of cut land,making way for for characterless condos hotels etc.

Many catastrophes have beset Phuket over the years...and been overcome. ...but the greed and fast approaching credit crunch effects will kill off this once lovely Island.So sad.

PHUKET...R.I.P.

[madmitch]

Songkram Chuenban, the chairman of the ad hoc panel, said the committee made a trip to the province and found that it had a lot of problems that could inhibit the development of Phuket tourism to its full potential.

My list (some of which the same as fiddlehead's):

Overdevelopment to the extent that areas of natural beauty are becoming more and more scarce

Possible development above the current height limit

Lack of water at certain times of year

Problems with sewage and waste disposal

Potential landslides

Lack of public transport between beaches

Overcharging tuk tuks and limos

Numerous scams

Restrictive bar opening hours

Inability to buy a beer at the 7-Eleven in the afternoon

Traffic

Lack of road safety

Increasing crime

Bad international press reports

Staff atttitudes in many places

Lack of staff training

Many things too expensive

The high value of the baht

Thieving ladyboys

Noisy jetskis plus the scratching scams.

Long immigration queues

Crap internet, especially today.

That's off the top of my head and I am sure there are quite a few more that could be added to the list.

I wonder how many of the above were on the committee's list of problems?

Of course many of these refer to Thailand in general but overdevelopment is the last thing the island needs. Look at the location of some new hotels: on Chalong Circle, on the most dangerous bend on the Kata Hills, on the final hairpin (proposed development anyway) of the Patong Hills. Probably the worst is right on Karon Beach at the northern end.

There are still some nice bits of Phuket left. Let's hope they can stay that way.

[DavidHouston]

Yes, the other thing they need to do at VTSP is extend the runway so that they can handle direct flight heavies. I'll leave the complaints about over-development to someone else...

Is the physical area long enough to accommodate a lengthening of the runway? Since one end is virtually on the beach, the question is whether the North-South bound main highway is too close to the Eastern end of the runway. Thanks.

[Kimera]

Senate panel proposes 'Special Economic Zone' status for Phuket

BANGKOK / PHUKET: -- A special Senate committee proposed this afternoon that the government turn Phuket into a Special Economic Zone [sEZ] for tourism to facilitate tourism developments on the island province.

Songkram Chuenban, the chairman of the ad hoc panel, said the committee made a trip to the province and found that it had a lot of problems that could inhibit the development of Phuket tourism to its full potential.

For example, the capacity of the Phuket International Airport is limited and there are not enough immigration officers to cope with the rising number of foreign tourists. The panel also found that the province's basic facilities are inadequate to service even the present level of tourists.

He said a special law should be enacted to allow the provincial administration to have more power to carry out tourism developments and to retain 30 per cent of revenue for these developments.

The idea of Phuket becoming an SEZ was first floated about 15 years ago and has cropped up almost annually ever since. However, today's senate proposal marks the first time that SEZ status has been tied specifically to tourism only.

BANGKOK / PHUKET: A special Senate committee proposed this afternoon that the government turn Phuket into a Special Economic Zone [sEZ] for tourism to facilitate tourism developments on the island province.

Songkram Chuenban, the chairman of the ad hoc panel, said the committee made a trip to the province and found that it had a lot of problems that could inhibit the development of Phuket tourism to its full potential.

For example, the capacity of the Phuket International Airport is limited and there are not enough immigration officers to cope with the rising number of foreign tourists. The panel also found that the province's basic facilities are inadequate to service even the present level of tourists.

He said a special law should be enacted to allow the provincial administration to have more power to carry out tourism developments and to retain 30 per cent of revenue for these developments.

The idea of Phuket becoming an SEZ was first floated about 15 years ago and has cropped up almost annually ever since. However, today's senate proposal marks the first time that SEZ status has been tied specifically to tourism only.

-- Phuket Gazette / The Nation 2009-03-06

Oh good I always wanted to own property in Singapore

[Ping]

Yes, the other thing they need to do at VTSP is extend the runway so that they can handle direct flight heavies. I'll leave the complaints about over-development to someone else...

Is the physical area long enough to accommodate a lengthening of the runway? Since one end is virtually on the beach, the question is whether the North-South bound main highway is too close to the Eastern end of the runway. Thanks.

It would require major work (including an underpass for the highway) and acquisitions at the east (rwy 27) end, so it would probably be simpler to reclaim some sea at the rwy 9 end. Of course, they'd need to find a decent bucket of money to do so, and they probably wouldn't be sufficiently motivated at this point in time. One day, perhaps...

[fiddlehead]

Necessary things COULD be done. But will they?

Water capacity could be a huge problem if there is a drought year.

Sewage capacity could use a lot of help for sure. Dumping it into the sea is not the answer, aye?

Getting some educated people and engineers on a zoning board perhaps?

And of course, the traffic problems and possible solutions from the other ongoing thread on traffic safety.

Taking out the tuk tuk mafia would be a dream come true for many.

Reliable high speed internet would be nice. (wireless?) yeah, i know i'm dreaming but these are some things i'd think about if it were up to me.

Oh, one more to add to the list: More trash bins and penalties for illegal dumping.

I live within a mile of three 4+ star resorts. There are just as many illegal trash dumps as fancy resorts.