Phuket Tourism: Has Phuket Been Ruined By Tourism?

[george]

Phuket Tourism: Has Phuket been ruined by tourism?

The Cape's natural beauty continues under threat from

mass tourism. Photo: Jeeheon Cho

Despite honky-tonk commercialism, both foreign and Thai

tourists visit the Cape in droves – every day, year round.

PHUKET: -- British TV personality Phillip Schofield revealed in a recent Daily Telegraph interview that he thinks Phuket – in particular Promthep Cape – has been ruined by tourism.

Recounting a recent trip to Promthep Cape with his wife, Schofield told the newspaper he was shocked by how much the place had changed for the worse since he visited in his youth.

Schofield said he remembered the Cape as a magical place where local families would bring food and everyone was invited to share, but now “nasty shacks selling awful food” and the “worst kind of commercialism” has destroyed the popular sunset viewing point.

Promthep Cape (Laem Promthep, in Thai) is located on Phuket’s southernmost tip and remains one of the island’s top tourist attractions, although packaged tourists have far outweighed private individual travellers at the Cape in recent years.

In addition to its natural beauty the Cape hosts a shrine, a lighthouse and a museum, and an oversupply of food stalls and trinket shops.

In a recent round of interviews, the Phuket Gazette tried to get some opinions on the Cape, and on Phuket generally, from people in a position to speak about it.

Responding to Schofield’s comments, the head of the Tourism Authority of Thailand's (TAT's) Phuket office, Bangornrat Shinaprayoon, said that “People don’t have the same tastes. Mr Schofield probably prefers local lifestyles. Times have changed and everything has changed with it.

“He can choose other spots in Phuket to go to, such as Nai Yang Beach which is still full of local smells and abundant nature. That might suit him better.”

However, many tourists and locals in Phuket agree with Mr Schofield’s comments.

Nuanjan Gedgliang, 44, has been running a clothes stall at Phromthep Cape for 18 years.

“Not many people bring food up to eat at Promthep anymore, ever since Rawai Municipality campaigned against it after some tourists complained that the Cape was dirty,” Mrs Nuanjan said.

Mrs Nuanjan also said that the area had definitely changed and become too commercialized – a transformation driven by tourism.

She added that Phuket has turned into a “foreigner’s city”, where everything has become expensive.

“I really would love for it to go back to what it used to be, but that seems impossible. If my house were not in Phuket, I would not live here,” she added.

Nicklas Nilsson, a 42-year-old Swedish expat, agreed.

“Promthep Cape is not like it was eight years ago. At that time there were not so many businesses – and only small food stalls,” he said. He emphasized that the pace of development of Phuket would eventually hurt tourism, as the island would no longer have a local influence, which would be off-putting to tourists.

Many other tourists and local residents, Thai and foreign, were found to share Mr Nilsson's observations.

Mrs Bangornrat noted that there are some positives to take from their comments. Better organization in terms of appearance at many of the island’s tourist attractions was one issue she highlighted as needing redress immediately.

“We want tourists to be impressed, not put off...," she added.

-- Phuket Gazette 2011-02-16

[hkt83100]

“Not many people bring food up to eat at Promthep anymore, ever since Rawai Municipality campaigned against it after some tourists complained that the Cape was dirty,” Mrs Nuanjan said.

The time has come for many years to teach the local people NOT to drop the garbage after the finish their Som Tam and bottles of Beer Singha. Just walk down to the tip of the cape, you are experiencing a nice garbage disposal site.

[WhySoSerious]

"Phuket Tourism: Has Phuket Been Ruined By Tourism?"

The answer is yes.

And as nearly every new tourist development in Thailand is using the copy/paste method, most tourist destinations in Thailand are likely to suffer the same fate (many already have).

This will not change as long as short term profit is the main goal, and long term planning is ignored, hand in hand with rampant corruption.

[geriatrickid]

yes.

[richieudon]

Yup!

[katasyd]

Phuket has been ruined by greed and poor management, not tourism.

[jayjay0]

like reading the Nation.

the article has nothing to do with the heading.

Sounds to me like the cape is OK The sea didn't look ruined to me. People just don't like the surroundings.

[inmysights]

Phuket has been ruined by greed and poor management, not tourism.

What he/she said.

[KarenBravo]

Phuket ruined for who?

The tourists, or, the thousands of local people that have been lifted out of poverty.

Yes, very picturesque watching the Thai fishermen and the rice harvesters at work. But, it is back-breaking work.

The answer to the question depends on who you are.

[jamora]

Phuket has been ruined by greed and poor management, not tourism.

What he/she said.

Or a combination of both!

Along with many other places in Thailand!

[IanForbes]

As others have already said, I believe that tourism has ruined parts of Phuket, but not the tourists. It's been done by locals who are profiteering without much planning. If you stand back a bit, Phuket is still a visually beautiful place, but when you look close the stains of commercialism are quite apparent.

The beach at Patong is a good example of over commercialism with shady tuk tuk drivers and seadoo operaters at the forefront

I much prefer the Laem sing beach

The cape is still lovely but you can see the rot starting to set in.

There are similarities to Pattaya, but at much inflated prices.

[MaiChai]

I thought Phuket was ruined back in 1998! Most of you would not know what it was like back them. How about Kata and Karon? I remember these when there was just a few bungalow operations ; that would be the early 1990s.

There was a time when Thailand was paradise; i mean the paradise you idealise from backpacking. This is long gone now.

So what happened? Well the main problem is no controls over planning, short termism in making a quick buck, and the main one is that Thais see little value in old things and keeping things beautiful. You can see this in most Thai towns now; lots of concrete everywhere and nothing old or unusual preserved.

[surangw]

internet helped things slide downhill, hard to hide all the little scams and so on when someone looks up phuket on google with the word scam in the search

[PoorSucker]

Don't know.

Only been there once.

To many charter tourists.

[DP25]

“Not many people bring food up to eat at Promthep anymore, ever since Rawai Municipality campaigned against it after some tourists complained that the Cape was dirty,” Mrs Nuanjan said.

Last time I was there was 6 years ago, and it WAS dirty. Entire cliff was littered in food wrappers and empty beer and whiskey bottles. If food vendors have reduced that at all it is a big improvement.

[Skywalker69]

Phuket has been ruined by greed and poor management, not tourism.

100% right!!!

[Ricardo]

Perhaps Phuket ought to be returned, to the beautiful natural environment, of its pre-tourist tin-mining days ?

[Digitalbanana]

I thought Phuket was ruined back in 1998! Most of you would not know what it was like back them. How about Kata and Karon? I remember these when there was just a few bungalow operations ; that would be the early 1990s.

There was a time when Thailand was paradise; i mean the paradise you idealise from backpacking. This is long gone now.

So what happened? Well the main problem is no controls over planning, short termism in making a quick buck, and the main one is that Thais see little value in old things and keeping things beautiful. You can see this in most Thai towns now; lots of concrete everywhere and nothing old or unusual preserved.

I think you are about a decade late. I was sick of the building sites come 1992, so never really went back again. Prior that it was a regular place to visit since my first trip in 1981. A visit to Promptep Cape in '81 via the small winding roads to catch the 6pm sunset was a joy to remember.

[animatic]

Phuket has been ruined by greed and poor management, not tourism.

As equally Tourism has been ruined by the Phuket mindset.

[brahmburgers]

Phuket has been ruined by greed and poor management, not tourism.

100% right!!!

nearly all tourism spots go through the same pattern:

>>>> lovely and pristine with friendly locals doing handicrafts - all scenic and laid-back.

>>>> some development, a few visitors, but locals still friendly and decent.

>>>> lots of development, gobs of tourists, and gobs of native outsiders coming in to make money.

>>>> over-development, trash, rude locals, rip-offs.

Phuket (and Pattaya, Samui, Bkk, C.Mai) are at the latter stages. They won't be able to get their innocence back, but they may be able to maintain a semblance of an ok environment for visitors (and themselves) - with good planning. Indications are that poor planning is the status quo in those places - so expect things to slide downhill.

Oh, but there's always some new pristine and friendly place over the horizon........ (isn't there?)

[chopsticks]

Things change. Nothing stays the same.

Bought a condo (actually leased for 30-30-30 since freehold leases didn't exist) long ago.

I remember Phuket having no traffic lights; no LOTUS, no BIG-C.

To state the obvious and pine for a time past is just talking to hear yourself speak.

[Pi Sek]

Old conversation this. You could ask the same question for Koh Samui, Koh Pha Ngan, Phi Phi or Krabi and get the same answers, and Phuket is more developed than any of those.

Samui of course has harsher building restrictions which you can't pay your way around but noone listens to the permanent call to stop cutting trees, because they're more interested in making money. Even Khanom is looking like it will go the same way.

Note the difference in types of tourist that visit these places though. Phuket's target market is more mainstream and, as a result, gives less of a dam_n about preserving culture or nature.

[blackthorn2005]

Phuket ruined for who?

The tourists, or, the thousands of local people that have been lifted out of poverty.

Yes, very picturesque watching the Thai fishermen and the rice harvesters at work. But, it is back-breaking work.

The answer to the question depends on who you are.

What are You talking about'? "thousands of local people that have been lifted out of poverty" + "the Thai fishermen and the rice harvesters at work. But, it is back-breaking work."

Do you know where Phuket is?

[blackthorn2005]

Phuket has been ruined by greed and poor management, not tourism.

100% right!!!

"Mrs Bangornrat noted that there are some positives to take from their comments. Better organization in terms of appearance at many of the island’s tourist attractions was one issue she highlighted as needing redress immediately. “We want tourists to be impressed, not put off...," she added"

OK Mrs Bangornat, actions speak louder than words. Now is time to take action, I have heard enough of your words. Look at the The online and printed media and see what the tourists are making the most noise about; Jet ski and tuk tuk rip offs, double pricing standards of pricing in restaurants, even in Patong Hospital. Get out of your nice cozy office and have alook around. If you do so, please do it covertly, not with your entourage, see the real world.

[Pi Sek]

Phuket has been ruined by greed and poor management, not tourism.

100% right!!!

"Mrs Bangornrat noted that there are some positives to take from their comments. Better organization in terms of appearance at many of the island’s tourist attractions was one issue she highlighted as needing redress immediately. “We want tourists to be impressed, not put off...," she added"

OK Mrs Bangornat, actions speak louder than words. Now is time to take action, I have heard enough of your words. Look at the The online and printed media and see what the tourists are making the most noise about; Jet ski and tuk tuk rip offs, double pricing standards of pricing in restaurants, even in Patong Hospital. Get out of your nice cozy office and have alook around. If you do so, please do it covertly, not with your entourage, see the real world.

Somehow I doubt that will ever happen.

[harleyclarkey]

Responding to Schofield’s comments, the head of the Tourism Authority of Thailand's (TAT's) Phuket office, Bangornrat Shinaprayoon, said that “People don’t have the same tastes. Mr Schofield probably prefers local lifestyles. Times have changed and everything has changed with it.

What an answer. Now you know why the place is a dump and will never change with this kind of mentality from the people in charge.

Don't you just love bureaucrats around the world??

[samjaidee]

Phuket has been ruined by greed and poor management, not tourism.

Koh Samui's the same.

[TheWizardofRnR]

I thought Phuket was ruined back in 1998! Most of you would not know what it was like back them. How about Kata and Karon? I remember these when there was just a few bungalow operations ; that would be the early 1990s.

There was a time when Thailand was paradise; i mean the paradise you idealise from backpacking. This is long gone now.

So what happened? Well the main problem is no controls over planning, short termism in making a quick buck, and the main one is that Thais see little value in old things and keeping things beautiful. You can see this in most Thai towns now; lots of concrete everywhere and nothing old or unusual preserved.

You hit the nail right on the .... I.ve been in Phuket since 1985 with 5 yrs up in Bangkok in between '89 to '93 , I mean it was except for the trash I saw behind Rawaii Beach, the most beautiful place !

But as we long timers often feel that things in all aspects have gotten worse ! Yet , we still stick it out, and why? I think its because , the whole world is goin' to crap anyway....yeah , you know I'm right.

It's like they just keep paving Paradises( Coney Island was my first as a child) and put up parking lots , Joni had that right , long ago this trend started! Way before the roads got paved. Funny , but I've lived at one time then the next on all three

main North -South roads in Patong , I was at the Paradise on the beach road in '88 , Rat-u-tit in '93 when it got paved , might be '94 or '95, but I was there. I moved to Na Nai Road, yep they paved it....guess where I am now??? Just off the Jongceylon Boulevard , as I like to call it ! You know it as the road behind Jongceylon, but I met 1 farang and nobody Thai who knows the roads right Thai name, so I say Jongceylon Blvd. !!! lets adopt that name!

Tom Mac Namara of Baan Rim Paa was once asked by a committe for help on cleaning up Phuket . Tom was asked to help with a slogan in English for Billboards, for tourists to keep Phuket beautiful by cleaning up there trash after themselves ?

Tom responded : " You want to know what to write" Tom in his Bostonian Irish way said to them : "Write it in THAI , not English !"

Yep , progress , it makes life different ! Sometimes , sadly so ! BB

[Anyse]

There are many more places "away" from such locations as these, including Bangla Road and other such places, in Phuket. I would not spend my time where everyone else goes all of the time. There are many more beaches and places that are not overly touristed as they are not yet developed. I would go to such places myself. However, the problem is that, when one blazes a new trail, others will follow. Such is the nature of travel and adventure. It saddens me that, when I went to James Bond Island (OK, I did not know any better at the time and would, these days, go somewhere else less traveled - again), that there were vendors all along the narrow walk to get to the cove from where the boats landed. This makes it look trashy and commercialized. Maybe they should limit the number of places/stalls and also have codes as to how they can be put it/built/organized and such to make them more attractive as well as less of an inconvenience. I was there in 2002 for a month and saw a lot while I was there. I loved the place when I was there and I asked a local to take me to "other places" and it was so wonderful going around that way than with charters and other such things. I got to see much of the "best" of Phuket and am glad I did.

Also, the article's headline is a bit hyperbolic to say that "all" the Phuket has been ruined and then only discuss one place that some writer talked about. Sometimes, I hate the stupid headlines in ThaiVisa.

[brahmburgers]

Phuket authorities should look at touristy places which are still ok, even after long times as tourist destinations.

I know it's hard to teach an old dog new tricks, but perhaps they could learn something.

I visited downtown Prague a few years ago. That's been a tourist destination for centuries.

Here are some of the things they do: They close large open areas from motorbikes. Pedestrians only. In Thailand, it's near impossible to close anything off from motorbikes.

Prague has low-emission/low noise trolleys which circle the downtown tourist area ....and THEY'RE FREE. Tourists can get on and off any time, any place, all day long. Could that happen in Thailand? You tell me.

There are trash receptacles everywhere. Clean bathrooms nearby. Authorities in Prague aren't afraid to discipline taxi drivers and others who charge too much. There are no vehicles with loudspeakers blasting detergent ads. All cultural places are either free or very low cost to enter. No double pricing.

Ok, we don't expect Phuket to be like a sophisticated European city, but there are still things Phuket bosses (and those from other Thai tourist towns) can learn. #1 would be standing up to, and eradicating rip-offs like the tuk tuk drivers, jet-ski operators and others. Next would be a shuttle from the airport to beach resorts. Without improvements, Phuket will continue sliding down in appeal and, like Pattaya, will increasingly attract bottom feeders.