Three Provinces To Be Developed As World-class

[george]

Three tsunami-hit provinces to be developed as world-class

PHANG-NGA: -- Thailand will develop its three tsunami-hit provinces--Phuket, Phang-nga and Krabi--as the 'Andaman Paradise', a world class marine tourism hub.

The plan, called the strategy on developing the 'Andaman Triangle', was approved by the cabinet at its mobile meeting in Phang-nga on Tuesday.

Under the strategy, Phuket will be revived its globally wellknown status of the 'Pearl of Andaman', while Phang-nga, especially its Surin and Similan Islands, and Krabi will be developed as charmful and tranquil eco-tourism centres.

In 2004, about 9.5 tourists visited the provinces, or 52 per cent of the total tourist arrivals in the kingdom's entire southern region, most of whom, or 67 per cent, are foreign visitors, according to official figures released by the cabinet.

The provinces normally earn the nation more than Bt 100 billion tourism revenue annually.

The cabinet also resolved that the construction of a total of 62 disaster warning centres be completed on December 26 to commemorate last year's tsunami disaster, with events and activities to be simply organized on the day.

Surviving tsunami victims, both Thais and foreigners, as well as relatives of those killed in the giant waves will be invited to join the commemoration, with all costs to be borne by the Thai government.

The cabinet also approved a plan to construct the 'Tsunami Museum' and the permanent closure of the tsunami victims' identification centre, headed by Pol. Gen. Nopadol Somboonsub, as Pol. Gen. Nopadol will retire at the end of this month.

The Ministry of Justice was assigned to continue the work of the centre.

The cabinet also reviewed assistance plans for the tsunami victims, including chidren who become orphans after the disaster and those who were mentally or physically injured from the tsunami, and assigned agencies concerned to accelerate the pending assistance, including the construction and repair of houses for the victims, as well as the provision of loans to local businesses.

Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra also instructed the Bureau of National Buddhism to repair local temples damaged by the tsunami.

--TNA 2005-09-06

[sriracha john]

In 2004, about 9.5 tourists visited the provinces

gee.... hard to imagine they're doing all this for fewer than 10 tourists...

[dr_Pat_Pong]

Simply add water once they get there. Economy of scale in the making.

[Jai Dee]

PUBLIC RELATIONS CAMPAIGNS FOR SPECIAL DUTY-FREE MEASURES IN PHUKET, PANG_NGA, KRABI HAVE BEEN TOO WEAK

The deputy finance minister has admitted that public relations campaigns to promote tourist purchases of duty-free products were weak, and has called for the relaxation of documents required for purchasing, in order to facilitate convenience.

The cabinet had earlier resolved to use tax measures to support tourism in the 3 Andaman provinces of Phuket, Krabi, and Phang Nga, with the aim of drawing tourists into the disaster-stricken areas. Since the beginning of this month, taxes have been cut for purchases of goods from all duty free shops in the 3 provinces, and the strictness of document-filling for the purchases has been reduced. Tourists staying over-night will receive coupons for purchasing goods from the duty free shops, varying, depending on the number of nights they choose to stay. This measure will last until December 31st this year.

Yesterday, Deputy Finance Minister Varathep Ratanakorn (วราเทพ รัตนากร) opened a King Power duty free shop in Phuket International Airport. Mr. Sombat Dechapanichkul (สมบัตร เดชาพานิชกุล), the managing director of the King Power Group, received the minister and revealed that the public had received very little information on the measure. Thus, he said that both the state and the private sectors needed to rapidly publicize the measure, in order to attract people who travelled into the 3 provinces.

The deputy finance minister meanwhile admitted that previously public relations campaigns have been weak, and thus he will have related agencies help in publicizing, especially towards Thai tourists. Evaluation will be conducted to see whether the measure will help to increase the number of tourists.

The duty free stores currently participating include Wangthalang (วังถลาง) Jewellery and Gift in Phuket, and the King Power shops at Phuket Airport, Patong (ป่าตอง) Resort Hotel, Merlin Hotel Khaolak (เขาหลัก), and Aaonang (อ่าวนาง) Hotel.

Source: thaisnews.com ประจำวันอังคารที่ 6 กันยายน 2548

[Thai-Aust]

Heaven for sex, drunk tourists.

[astral]

"World class marine tourism hub"

Rather odd, when the diving community is still bemoaning the damage

done by the Tsunami.

[Sphere]

...and Krabi will be developed as charmful...

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

A hub of hyperbole

[Khun Larry]

Three tsunami-hit provinces to be developed as world-class 

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Last I read Phuket was to be a "high tech hub"

World class? I don't think so. Maybe he meant low-class. Thailand should just stick with their expertise: dirty beaches, prostitution, touts, cheap CD's, noodls shops, foot massage.

Edited September 7, 2005 by Khun Larry

[ovenman]

How about making Phuket a hub for tailor shops?

[Sphere]

How about making Phuket a hub for tailor shops? 

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

It isn't?

[Plus+]

When they were discussing how to rebuild and develop Maldives someone offered Phuket as a model and the locals rejected it straight away as a sure way to ruin their islands. Or was it some Indian islands? It was in the Nation about a month ago.

[think_too_mut]

They had that paradise before.

They can make it again, even better.

But, the force that destroyed it last year did not ask anybody for their intentions. That's what's holding people back.

No matter how much money they pour in, people know nobody is really in charge. And the tragedy was seen happening there.

IMO, the place has to linger until the fears have faded ...for the next generation, I am afraid.

[englishoak]

World class??

I don't think so

[Galong]

Three tsunami-hit provinces to be developed as world-class 

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Last I read Phuket was to be a "high tech hub"

World class? I don't think so. Maybe he meant low-class. Thailand should just stick with their expertise: dirty beaches, prostitution, touts, cheap CD's, noodls shops, foot massage.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

You've hit the nail on the head. There is no reason to think that things will change. Phuket and Krabi are both the same. The islands of Trang are next. In a while, mass tourism and tacky tourist shops will work their way down to the border of Malaysia.

As creative and original as Thais are with food and comedy (great Thai commercials and stand-up comics), why can't they come up with new and original ways to build a tourist destination. Well, I'll tell you why... it's easier to copy an existing destination. Cheap tours, cheap trinkets, etc. don't require learning proper English and any uneducated citizen can make money.

Who else is getting tired of all the "hub" talk? Come on gov, follow through on something please. You've come up with a lot of seemingly good idea... then they seem to vanish into thin air.

Of course, keep the cheap CD business