Yingluck Pledges Splurge On Developing Phuket Tourism

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PM Yingluck pledges splurge on developing Phuket tourism

Phuket Gazette

During her visit, PM Yingluck visited the Imam at Krabi Central Mosque and paid her respects to the abbot at Kaew Korawararam Temple in Krabi Town. Photo: Kritsada Mueanhawong

PM Yingluck announced that three of the five top-tourism destinations to be developed in the Andaman region were in Phuket. Photo: Kritsada Mueanhawong

PHUKET: -- Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra on Saturday named Patong Beach, Old Phuket Town and Promthep Cape as three Andaman tourist attractions to receive “emergency budget” support.

Also on the list to receive special attention were Phi Phi Island and Ao Nang, both in Krabi province, to make them more “tourist friendly” ahead of the Asean Economic Community (AEC) coming into effect in 2015.

“We have a plan to develop 29 top tourism destinations throughout Thailand. There are five such destinations in the Andaman region included in the plan: Patong Beach, Old Phuket Town, Promthep Cape, Phi Phi Island and Ao Nang Beach,” PM Yingluck told guests at a dinner talk organized by the Krabi Provincial Office and Matichon Group at the Sofitel Phokeethra Krabi Resort & Spa.

With about 14.3 million tourists having already visited the Kingdom this year, PM Yingluck expects the Thai tourism industry to be making about 2 trillion baht a year by the year 2015.

The jump in expected revenue relies heavily on the hopes that the AEC will bolster Thailand’s tourism industry. “We now have to develop an effective marketing strategy that will allow us to maintain our existing target markets, while also drawing in new markets.

“It will be necessary to target both the middle-class market and the luxury market,” PM Yingluck said.

“Another strategy would be encouraging longer stays,” she added.

In addition to developing tourist attractions, the government is proposing to build a high-speed rail system that will have both domestic and international lines.

“We have 2.2 trillion baht that will be used to develop a high-speed train network,” PM Yingluck said.

Source: http://www.phuketgaz...ticle17935.html

-- Phuket Gazette 2012-09-17

[NomadJoe]

Just splurge on about 200 Baht buses/seangtows like they have in Krabi and Pattaya please.

[dksharron]

Spending smaller amounts of money on locations with less tourists ( and a lot less local money - why should Patong be helped?, it is rich) will result in a much better return on investment.

Go to the mainland and move northward along the coastline; there are many wonderful smaller cities which could use the funds for a tourism boost, and this way there would be many locations for tourists instead of only a few overcrowded ones.

[virtualtraveller]

LOL usual Thai response, don't bother cleaning up the mafia mess, just splurge more on pointless CNN 'Amazing Thailand' ads, so you can attract an ever new supply of tourists ready to be ripped off.

[HaleySabai]

Do people even go to Phuket anymore?...... its OVER-developed. just let it continue to sink into the ocean along with all its ponzi schemers and jive-ass operators.

[mancub]

Can only assume that this is targeting (courting ) the Russian and Chinese market !

[how241]

Just splurge on about 200 Baht buses/seangtows like they have in Krabi and Pattaya please.

Good idea.

[itsala]

Divide the 2.2 trillion amongst all the jet ski,tuk tuk, tailor, meter taxi and other assorted vested bodies and export them all to Sanya or Macau. Should be enough for one way ticket, start up cash and a jolly nice time for them all.