Restoration well under way at Patong beach

Phuket's most popular beach may be returning to its wild and woolly heyday

PHUKET: -- Some of nightclubs at Patong beach have resumed their services.

Though it is Phuket's most crowded and most popular beach, Patong has long been thought a classic case of exploitation of natural beachfront, thronged as it is with copious nightlife entertainment and beer bars.

It has been said that it might be fortunate for Patong that the tsunami helped clean up the beach, and thus paved the way for the brave attempt to manage the beachfront in a more systematic and appropriate way, including showing some respect for nature and culture.

Today, it all hangs on the edge. It remains to be seen whether the planned zoning will help improve the management of Patong beach, but it appears to recent visitors that Patong is likely to be restored to its old, familiar look and noisy, crowded nocturnal ways. But there is still a chance; no one can truly judge the results until everything is completely finished and ready to welcome tourists again.

Patong today is quieter than usual. But tourists who stroll along Patong beach can clearly see where buildings are under restoration.

In fact, those who just don't feel they can watch Patong being "restored" should remember that beaches at Kata and Karon can be good alternatives.

Though these beaches are less majestic compared with Patong, they are more properly developed, with greater care for both the local culture and natural environment.

Most of the hotels on Kata and Karon beaches are said to be owned by local Phuket people who want to see tourism in Phuket developed in a more appropriate way than the old Patong system (or lack of system).

"We've seen the natural exploitation of Patong beach and we don't want that to happen in this area, so we've been careful in tourism development in Kata and Karon beaches," said Angkana Tanetvisetkul, managing director of Peach Hill Hotel and Resort on Kata beach.

Angkana said the beaches have just begun booming only in the past five years, as increasing numbers of hotels sprouted. Today, there are 32 up-market hotels on the beaches that are members of Kata-Karon Hotel Association.

In fact, these beaches were barely touched by the tsunami, but the sharp, overall drop of tourist arrivals to Phuket has had a severe impact on all of them.

These days, all of Phuket island seems to be waiting for tourists to come back.

If you don't know where to start your tour in the South, consider starting at Kata and Karon beaches to get a good glimpse of Phuket before you head off and explore other areas.

--Bangkok Post 2005-03-17

It has been said that it might be fortunate for Patong that the tsunami helped clean up the beach

I can't believe that Sub-Editors let weird, ambiguous comments like this get published !