Phuket gets ready for tourism boom with ‘Big Cleaning Day’

Phuket Gazette –

Phuket students don gloves as they head out to pick up trash at Saphan Hin Park in Phuket Town yesterday. Photo: Kritsada Mueanhawong

Phuket Vice Governor Sommai (in green jacket) stands in front of the ‘Cleanup Army’ at Saphan Hin Park in Phuket Town yesterday. Photo: Kritsada Mueanhawong

PHUKET: The three district offices covering the entire island staged cleanups at public areas across Phuket yesterday as part of the “Big Cleaning Day” initiative.

More than 500 people, including government officers, staff from private businesses as well as local students and residents, gathered at Saphan Hin Park in Phuket Town, where the Muang District Office held its activity under the banner “Giving back the clean nature to the Andaman”.

Thalang District Office staged a similar cleanup at Surin Beach, while Kathu District Office held another in front of the Kathu District Office.

Leading the activity at Saphan Hin, Vice Governor Sommai Prijasilpa explained to participants, “The government is moving ahead with plans to promote tourism to Phuket that will see more than 12 million people coming to Phuket each year. Already, about 8mn tourists come to Phuket each year.

“Since we are the hosts of our province, we have to prepare and be ready in every aspect in order to welcome the tourists, which will be twice the number of tourists that we have now. More tourists mean more income…,” she said.

“Cleanliness is the first impression that will make the image of our province look good. Trash belongs in the bin, not on the street or elsewhere,” V/Gov Sommai added.

Meanwhile, the Phuket Gazette is proud to sponsor the “Dive Against Debris” underwater cleanup to be held on September 30.

“Come and join the largest underwater cleanup of its kind in Thailand. We’ll be Diving Against Debris, removing hazardous rubbish and surveying the rubbish,” said organizer Tony Andrews.

“This will be the biggest volunteer effort to protect our ocean that Phuket has ever seen. Want to get involved? Contact your local PADI Dive Centre,” he added.

On the day of the cleanup, participating teams will meet at Chalong Pier before heading off-island.

For more information, call Mr Andrews at 076-286722, Email: [email protected] or visit the Facebook page: www.facebook.com/goecophuket

The event is sponsored by the Phuket Gazette, PGTV and the Phuket Today show on UBC/True Visions (Channel 99).

Source: http://www.phuketgazette.net/phuket_news/2012/Phuket-gets-ready-for-tourism-boom-with-Big-Cleaning-Day-16867.html

-- Phuket Gazette 2012-09-07

“Cleanliness is the first impression that will make the image of our province look good. Trash belongs in the bin, not on the street or elsewhere,” V/Gov Sommai added.

The same advise works well for taxi mafia and jetski operators. Put them in the bin. Looks like more wallpaper over the cracks before the tourist season begins.

Could not agree more. Cleaning up tuk tuk, jet ski, and all the other scams would be much more beneficial for the novice tourist.

At least they are doing something. I can't imagine people in USA, UK and others getting off their ass to help out like this. Yes, other things need to be done, but at least give them credit for doing this. It's always "moan, moan, moan" with you lot. Even if they got rid of the mafia, you lot would still have something to complain about.

When Thais don't do anything, you lot complain. But when Thais do something, then you still complain. They just can't win.

What are you lot doing to help? It's easy to sit behind your PC sniping at people all day, but a little harder to get off you backsides and do something.

At least they are doing something. I can't imagine people in USA, UK and others getting off their ass to help out like this. Yes, other things need to be done, but at least give them credit for doing this. It's always "moan, moan, moan" with you lot. Even if they got rid of the mafia, you lot would still have something to complain about.

When Thais don't do anything, you lot complain. But when Thais do something, then you still complain. They just can't win.

What are you lot doing to help? It's easy to sit behind your PC sniping at people all day, but a little harder to get off you backsides and do something.

Well I and many other TV members will be cleaning the reef (which I and every pretty much every foreign divemaster and instructor already does every dive any way) and volunteering in other ways for the Dive Agaisnt Debris event on the 29th and 30th. Some members you speak of have donated equipment and staff and boats to the clean-up. Rick (A TV member) of Rick n Roll's Music Cafe and Hostel, and now also PADI Dive Center/Resort, is co-MC'ing it and donating PA equipment. I am told by Tony, the Dive Against Debris organizer, that the PPAO are closing Chalong pier on the 30th to all dive boats except those donated for the day to carry divers for the clean up.

And BTW, davejones, the Dive against Debris event is almost 100% foreign conceived and foreign run.

At least they are doing something. I can't imagine people in USA, UK and others getting off their ass to help out like this. Yes, other things need to be done, but at least give them credit for doing this. It's always "moan, moan, moan" with you lot. Even if they got rid of the mafia, you lot would still have something to complain about.

When Thais don't do anything, you lot complain. But when Thais do something, then you still complain. They just can't win.

What are you lot doing to help? It's easy to sit behind your PC sniping at people all day, but a little harder to get off you backsides and do something.

With the exception of some African countries, for whom the lack of education is attributable, I haven't been to any country where the local population are as environmentally unfriendly and ignorant as Thailand. One only has to look at the lack of public waste bins on every road, and even more noticeable where social gatherings take place, and the rubbish strewn everywhere. Beaches are generally taken care of on the west coast, as the primary users are tourists who in the main, have more respect and take their rubbish home with them. Try visiting parts of the east coast popular with locals, and witness the empty glass bottles of beer that have been abandoned, waiting their turn to join the thousands of others that are going to get smashed on the rocks. Plastic water bottles, and polystyrene food cartons at least are not going to physically hurt you, but hey, that's a big sea, why don't we just throw everything into it......

Don't know which country you actually come from, and I just wonder if you actually live here DJ, as your post smacks of more than a little naivety.

One day of a few local volunteers isn't going to make amends for the other 364 days of ignorance, but I guess that it looks good in the press, and maybe an excuse for a new tee shirt.

“Cleanliness is the first impression that will make the image of our province look good. Trash belongs in the bin, not on the street or elsewhere,” V/Gov Sommai added.

Agreed litter doesn't look good and is a pet peev of mine when anyone just drops it on the street, but isn't it the chaos at Phuket Airport immigration followed swiftly with a barrage of taxi touts the first impressions 99.9% of tourists get?

whats the point? it'll be full of trash tomorow morning.

I know a few spots in phuket town that have daily cleanups for about 5hrs a day. All those places are filthy every single day.

The park in my hometown of 500 000 people is about 9 times as large as sapham in, it has water as well, animals and people are allowed to eat there.

0,000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000 garbage EVER seen and no cleanup crew and no staff telling people to clean, no notice that its illegal to spew trash and no police officers.. Sometimes there's a stray plastic bag coming from the street thats it.

You can't change filthy people. It's not HISO to take your plastic cup of coke. The hiso way is using the motorbike plastic holder to tie it on a tree.

At least they are doing something. I can't imagine people in USA, UK and others getting off their ass to help out like this. Yes, other things need to be done, but at least give them credit for doing this. It's always "moan, moan, moan" with you lot. Even if they got rid of the mafia, you lot would still have something to complain about.

When Thais don't do anything, you lot complain. But when Thais do something, then you still complain. They just can't win.

What are you lot doing to help? It's easy to sit behind your PC sniping at people all day, but a little harder to get off you backsides and do something.