Phuket's steamy underbelly is out on top

Lite Beer · October 20, 2013

Phuket's steamy underbelly is out on top

PHUKET: Phuket is struggling to balance its new naughty side against its traditional image as a tropical paradise and for now, it looks like the dark side is winning.

A decade ago, Phuket, sparkling as the Pearl of the Andaman, had earned a global reputation as a must-see destination for travellers interested in unspoilt beaches, natural beauty and green tourism.

But those same travellers would today struggle to recognise Phuket. It is veering in the same direction as Pattaya with sex shows, prostitution and the exploitation of wild animals; the seediness mainly confined to Patong's ever-growing bar strip along Soi Bangla.

Add to that equation greedy jet ski operators and taxi and tuk-tuk drivers' reputation for fleecing customers and the holiday destination's image takes another blow.

Phuket's shift towards the shadows was highlighted last month after Barbadian R&B singer Rihanna made international headlines when she posted photos of herself posing with a protected slow loris and made X-rated comments about a sex show she had seen the previous night.

''Either I was phuck wasted last night, or I saw a Thai woman pull a live bird, 2 turtles, razors, shoot darts and ping pong, all out of her pu$$y,'' she tweeted to her 32 million followers on Sept 20.

Local officials responded as only they know how _ ''cracking down'' on the sex show operators and slow loris handlers, with three people now in custody; the latest the owner of the bar Rihanna allegedly saw the show in.

The district chief seemed surprised the bar even existed. ''The authorities found out about this bar the morning after Rihanna tweeted about it, but we were not able to catch them breaking the law until Saturday night,'' Veera Kerdsirimongkol said. ''We had been waiting for them and finally caught them red-handed.''

But the sex shows are no surprise to Weerawit Kruasombat, president of the Patong Entertainment Entrepreneurs Club, who says ''illegal and dirty'' businesses are operating all over Patong. He said Patong's image was now dominated by Soi Bangla.

''Holidaymakers used to visit Phuket after hearing about our beaches, but now Soi Bangla has come to represent Phuket all around the world,'' he said.

''When tourists arrive in Patong and they see strange sex shows, they remember Phuket as the place to see such things.''

But Santi Pawai, director of the Phuket Tourism and Sports Office, sticks to the line found in the tourist brochures.

Mr Santi said the highlights of Phuket are still the beaches and islands, as well as being a jumping-off point to visit other provinces such as Phangnga.

However, he did concede that ''nightlife, scams and illegal activities are possibly going on in crowded areas such as Patong, which have a different style to other eco-tourism spots around Phuket''.

PRETTY GREEN In recent years, tourism in Phuket has shown strong, steady growth. In 2011, the number of visitors was 9,467,000, generating revenues of 188.8 billion baht.

Last year, the number rose to 10,789,000 visitors, and revenues of 228.9 billion baht. Visitor numbers for this year have already unofficially reached 10 million, said Mr Santi.

A 10-year comparison, according to Tourism and Sports Office statistics, shows that tourism revenue for Phuket has more than tripled from 72.5 billion baht in 2002.

Mr Santi likes to believe that the growth of tourism has been fostered by Phuket's eco-tourism credentials, accompanied by improved infrastructure and safety measures for travellers.

While he conceded there is an element of ''naughty nightlife'' in Phuket, he is sure it has reached saturation point and will not grow any further.

''Phuket has already grown in that direction,'' he said.

''But I think Phuket is not like Pattaya and we have a different appeal.''

Mr Santi is not worried about the eco-tourism push by Phangnga and Krabi, arguing that Phuket is working in alliance with the new competitors.

''The number of tourists in Phuket is excessive, and some decide to go to Phangnga, Krabi or Trang instead,'' he said.

''It is the strategy of the five Andaman provinces [Phuket, Phangnga, Krabi, Trang and Ranong] to share tourists and spread the tourism industry revenues.''

And Phuket Governor Maitree Intusut is happy to play second fiddle when it comes to eco-tourism as he believes his province has wider appeal.

''We may not be the lord of eco-tourism compared to Phangnga or Krabi, because we have different targets,'' he told Spectrum. ''Apart from our main beaches, we also have adventure activities, sport and other luxury relaxation activities.''

For its part, Phangnga is happy to focus on eco-tourism, although its tourism revenue pales by comparison with Phuket.

Pong-Anan Chanprai, Phangnga's Tourism and Sports Office director, said that 800,000 visitors to the province generated 6 billion baht in revenue in 2011.Last year, there were 900,000 tourists who generated revenues of 9billion baht and the numbers are likely to rise this year.

''We are promoting our natural attractions _ not only beaches, but also caves, waterfalls, hot springs and many others, as well as the culture and traditional lifestyles of local people such as the Muslim 'floating village' community on Koh Panyi,'' Mr Pong-Anan explained.

He is not worried that future growth of tourism will lead down the same path as Phuket, into sex shows and rowdy nightlife venues.

''We focus on quality tourists more than the number of tourists or year-on-year percentage growth in the tourism industry,'' he said. And the strategy certainly seems to be paying off (see the accompanying table, Tourist number growth).

''Quality tourists spend more money during their trip and cause fewer problems, while mass tourism means visitors come in huge numbers, spend less per person and cause more problems.

''We are close to Phuket, so people can visit the region and choose different styles of holiday.''

MEANER STREETS

While tourist numbers are growing in Phuket, the crime rate is also climbing.According to police statistics, there were 2,737 crimes in 2006, rising steadily to 4,758 in 2009 and 8,201 last year. So far this year the number of cases has already reached 8,611.

Phuket Tour Guide Association president Panompon Thammachatniyom said increasing crime rates and complaints by travellers were a natural consequence of mass tourism and workers moving to the province from across the country.

''The culture and tradition of relying on natural resources in Phuket have declined over the past decade,'' he said.

''Phuket used to be a peaceful and attractive place, but now there are a lot more tourists who are of a different type than those who came before because of the rapid growth of the tourism industry here.

''There is more mass tourism now. Ten years ago, Phuket had more quality tourists. Now there are more people, more nationalities and many workers pouring in from provinces across the country.

''The positive side is that the number of tourists has increased every year, as has the money they bring in. But on the down side, crime and scams have become major concerns.''

He said outsiders from other provinces may not worry about ripping off tourists as they were less concerned with protecting Phuket's image than locals.

Mr Santi said tourist complaints were mainly about poor quality products, inconvenient transport options, unfair taxi prices often resulting in disputes and jet ski rental rip-offs.

Kathu Police Station Superintendent Pol Col Jirapat Pochanapan is responsible for the busy Patong tourist area and also blamed the growing problems on more ''strangers'' working in the area.

While the registered population of Patong is only 19,000, this figure jumps to between 45,000 and 60,000 in the high season, bolstered by seasonal workers from outside the province, he said.

''In the high season there are a lot more people coming to the area _ both tourists and workers from other provinces _ and crime in Patong mainly involves them, not the permanent residents,'' he said.

The most common crimes were drug-related, assault and theft, Pol Col Jirapat said, but he added that the national ''Safety Zone'' campaign introduced last year had helped reduce crime rates.

''We have checkpoints and police teams that routinely check around the crowded tourist venues every night,'' he said.

''Since the safety zone campaign began, the number of crimes per day has dropped gradually.''

However, he admitted that checking for sex shows such as the one Rihanna had tweeted about was difficult.

''It's quite hard to arrest people at sex shows as the bars always tell the police that they only have a ladyboy show or just a 'sexy dance','' he said. ''But whenever the police are not around, the sex show starts up again.

''For illegal activities such as the sex shows and slow loris petting, we have undercover agents checking places every night who are ready to arrest anyone caught.''

District chief Mr Veera was confident that the illegal activities Rihanna experienced would be eradicated with concerted policing.

''The number of sex shows is reducing thanks to our strict checks, and you can rarely find a slow loris in Soi Bangla as was the case before,'' he said.

''Local people who see such illegal activities can report them to us 24/7, and we are ready to arrest those involved. Cooperation from the locals is an essential part of cleaning up Patong.''

WHAT'S WRONG WITH BEING SEXY?

Despite the local constabulary and officials' confidence that they are on top of the crime situation, the greater debate remains whether Phuket was wise to depart from its traditional tourism strategy.

Mr Panompon of the Tour Guide Association believes that Phuket has neither a ''fixed'' international image as a nightlife destination nor as a luxury beach destination.

The new ''mass tourists'' are from Asian countries, and are not focused on nightlife: ''The mass tourists _ such as those from China or Korea _ are not interested in nightlife, bars or shows like those in Patong as they purchased tour packages and their schedules are fixed, and they have group activities arranged such as beach tours and shopping trips,'' he said.

''There are always more Western visitors in the nightlife areas where there are party bars and girls.

''Phuket has many different faces. We still have tranquil beaches as well as Patong _ which looks quite like Pattaya _ so people can choose what to do on their holiday.''

Mr Maitree, the province's governor, agrees that you have to take the good with the bad as tourist numbers increase.

But he does concede that greater efforts must be made to educate tuk-tuk and taxi drivers, and jet ski businesses, about treating tourists better.

''We have many meetings with tuk-tuk and taxi drivers working in tourist spots as well as jet ski operators and we also run educational seminars about responsibilities and service standards,'' he said. ''The campaign seems to be working as the number of complaints has been gradually dropping.''

Despite the illegal activities and scams, he believes Phuket's international image has not been harmed.

''Phuket still has the nice image that it used to,'' he said. ''Scams and illegal shows and even crime happen in most tourist centres, but we keep an eye on it and try to crack down on it.''

But neighbouring Phangnga has no intention of going down the same route of offering everything to all tourists, says Mr Pong-Anan from the Tourism and Sports Office.

''The annual budget allocation from the government will go to improving infrastructure,'' he said. ''We have no plans to promote anywhere in Phangnga for its nightlife.

-- Phuket News 2013-10-20

mrtoad · October 20, 2013

What a load of dross. I went to Phuket in 1991, and the sex shows were alive and well there then. Now, there are even more. Phuket is a steaming turd in the Andaman, and anyone that has spent anytime there knows that Patong is no different than Pattaya. It's a shame, as there are some nice spots there, but most of the comments by the authorities are just usual BS.

joefromdc · October 20, 2013

Oh man, I could not disagree more. Patong's beach road can kind of remind you of Pattaya until you turn and look at the beach. Not to mention, there are plenty of other beaches that are rather lovely. Phuket is a lot more than Patong. (Just my opinion).

Couldn't agree with you more about the "authorities" bit though.

sunshine51 · October 20, 2013

I'll just toss this in for Phuket...

The place has gone to crap since I first

saw it 40 years ago...IMO.

Johnnie99 · October 20, 2013

''We have many meetings with tuk-tuk and taxi drivers working in tourist spots as well as jet ski operators and we also run educational seminars about responsibilities and service standards,'' he said. ''The campaign seems to be working as the number of complaints has been gradually dropping.''

Despite the illegal activities and scams, he believes Phuket's international image has not been harmed.

''Phuket still has the nice image that it used to,'' he said. ''Scams and illegal shows and even crime happen in most tourist centres, but we keep an eye on it and try to crack down on it.''

Well. Where does he actually live? Or maybe he has sight problems. Complaints are ignored and the paperwork not done, that's why the numbers are dropping. However, more seedy little bars and even seedier 'workers' are emerging like lice in a customer's ... oops. Can I say that?

RedQualia · October 20, 2013

Haven't been to Phuket in ten years. Didn't care lots for it back then, and everything I read makes me think it's gone much further down hill. No good news from there, and none in the story above, either. Sex shows? Who cares? Least of the problems compared to the big hotels chewing up more and more ocean front area to build big, expensive hotels/"resorts" to service all those tourists on tour packages mentioned in the story.

Actually I'm sure there are some good people in Phuket. But everything I read about it kind of makes me think Pattaya is a bit more upscale. But then, I only visit Pattaya, Ko Chang, et al, in the non-tourist season. Last think I want to experience is any part of the 10 million plus tourists.

Tboy928 · October 20, 2013

who are they kidding, this shitty ping pong sex show sales people, are lined up to block the road when enter Bangla form both sides , and during all the walk down this street they jump on you to ask you to come for a show. for me is ok if they have this shows, but to bother every tourist that have a evning walk with it ,is a shame . Also this animals they stand there for make money take picture of seems like buisness as normal.

joefromdc · October 20, 2013

Am I the only one who has been to other beaches on Phuket? Patong sucks for the very reasons you just mentioned. But Kata, Kamala and Surin are beautiful and lacking the "Pattaya" aspects.

hawker9000 · October 20, 2013

It's true that there is a Phuket outside Patong, but to get there & around you have to deal with the taxi mafia. And then there's the crime, which is not confined to Soi Bangla or Patong. Come to think of it, stacked up against all of Thailand's (and Cambodia's, and Vietnam's, and....) alternative beach destinations, Phuket just has totally lost its appeal. Now those emotionally, financially, or otherwise invested in the place will continue to mount the tired old "these things happen everywhere" defense, and point to all the chinese packagers and uninformed first-timers still coming, but the bloom is definitely off the rose and there aren't any signs of Phuket even wanting to clean up its act. That's their choice. No problem for me.

Shot · October 20, 2013

_{This is one of those stories that makes me angry to the core. Probably the tipping point for me. Are they really calling what Rihanna does R&B?}

Edited October 20, 2013 by Shot

drdoom6996 · October 20, 2013

Same here, just another headline for the uneducated masses.

capt_canada42 · October 20, 2013

Good all of you especially Mr Toad stay away we don't need any of you ... still loving it after all these years ..

Edited October 20, 2013 by capt_canada42

Emdog · October 20, 2013

What a toady piece of dross. This almost got me to laugh: "It is veering in the same direction as Pattaya with sex shows, prostitution and the exploitation of wild animals; the seediness mainly confined to Patong's ever-growing bar strip along Soi Bangla." I thought maybe, just maybe, the article would be about the true seedy side: the mafia like collusion of police, officials, scammers of all types, etc. Maybe that is not the belly, however. It is the steamy head? By the way, I take offense in comparing it to Pattaya. Pattaya is Singapore by comparison. I might refer to the whole cabal as idiots, but I don't want to insult true idiots!

Centrum · October 20, 2013

I was given a run down of the shows available in Phuket at least 20 years ago, by a friend who had holidayed there, and Bangkok in the last 10 years is quite tame in comparison.

Maggusoil · October 20, 2013

This is great

quote "The district chief seemed surprised the bar even existed. ''The authorities found out about this bar the morning after Rihanna tweeted about it,"

So an international pop star has to tweet about her experience before the local yokel knows what's going on!

That is good.

The top end tourists have been put off coming here by the Russians and the slow loris drivers, and pretty soon we will be attracting every low life there is. . .

I guess nobody really cares as long as someone is coming here and spending money. Right?

Benmart · October 20, 2013

You have such a way with words. It leaves me breathless.

NomadJoe · October 20, 2013

So which is it, a "steaming turd" or a place with "some nice places"?

Like many, you confuse Patong, one over built, seedy, smelly beach town with all of Phuket, an island the size of Singapore. Bang Tao, Mai Khao, Nai Yang, Surin, Kamala, Karon, Kata, Kata Noi, Ya Nui, Nai Harn, make up 90% of the west coast and are all nice beaches which cannot accurately be described as part of your "steaming turd". And lets not forget about all the other areas of Phuket that are not Patong such as Rawai, Chalong, Kathu, Phuket Town, Chang Talay, and Thalang. In addition Cape Panwa, Cape Promtheap, Khao Pra Teaw Wildlife Reserve and Sirinat National Marine Park are lovely places and rarely visited by tourists.

Bikkii · October 20, 2013

What bulls@@t ! I live here and love it. Its what you make it. If you want to hang around a bar getting smashed, then smashing the local wildlife, Patong is your place. Venture outside these tourist areas and see how great the place really is. Swim every morning, only one on the beach. Look at real Thai girls and get no interest back. Eat cheap local food that is delicious and enjoy life! Saying that a night out in Patong once a month ain;t too bad is it?

wwest5829 · October 20, 2013

It's yours. I am retired in Chiang Mai. I will go elsewhere as I have read too much negative about rip offs in Phuket and Sumui. Puket's loss or mine? Yea, I know, I am a drop in the ocean but then, so is an area that allows widespread mistreatment.

joefromdc · October 20, 2013

Like * 1,000, Joe.

Thai at Heart · October 20, 2013

It's new image?

Bikkii · October 20, 2013

LMFAO !!! Nothing bad happens in your holier than thou city of Chiang Mai ha? I will help you out a little there pal to re-jog your memory. Remember these?

http://www.chiangmaicitynews.com/news.php?id=1771

http://chiangmaibest.com/scams/

http://www.bangkokpost.com/learning/learning-from-news/363674/holidays-from-hell-in-thailand

bbbbooboo · October 20, 2013

Did that guy say Phuket is a"jumping off point"?

pomchop · October 20, 2013

However, he did concede that ''nightlife, scams and illegal activities are possibly going on in crowded areas such as Patong, which have a different style to other eco-tourism spots around Phuket''.

POSSIBLY GOING ON? POSSIBLY?...maybe? Gee that is sure a great "concession" for him to make...wouldn't want to offend the mafia now would he?

Krataiboy · October 21, 2013

There are two issues here - 1 Is Phuket a busted flush? (Yes) and 2 will the Thais who are responsible (from the governor to the yobs who rip off tourists right, left and centre, admit it's their fault?(No).

So what's new? Just about every tourist resort in Thailand is routinely destroyed over time by lack of planning and ruthless exploitation of resource on the back of the crony capitalism which runs the country's economy.

Everybody who has lived in Thailand for more than a decade will tell you how good places used to be - Pattaya, Phuket, Phi Phi, Koh Samui, Hua Hin, etc

Soon they will be able to add the small coastal resort I retired to eleven years go to the list. It has recently been "discovered" and it is already in the early stages of a ghoulish transformation from a quiet, attractive little resort patronised mainly by locals, Bangkok Thais and a few discriminating foreign visitors and residents into yet another mass tourism "hub".

The town and the surrounding area has become one vast building site, as speculators and developers jostle to get their noses into the latest easy money trough. Land and house p;rices have sky-rocketed beyond the reach of the vast majority of local Thai people.

A quiet soi in the middle of town, once noteworthy only for the the fact that buses to Bangkok started and stopped there, is now a raucous red light area full of bars frequented by prostitutes and their customers – many old enough to be the girls' fathers and even grandfathers.

Inflation is rampant, as restaurants and hotels, taxi drivers, shopkeepers and beach vendors begin hiking their prices in eager anticipation of the expected predicted influx of well-heeled visitors from Europe and Asia eager to sample Thai "culture".

Culture? No, we are not talking about performances of Thai dancing or gamalang, art and museum exhibitions or other such wholesome fare, but more basic entertainment of the kind which has the good burghers of Phucket, Pattaya mourning the loss of their reputations as family resorts.

When, one wonders, will they ever learn? Only, if past experience is anything to judge by, after the baby has been thrown out with the bathwater. By then, of course, it will be too darn late.

Edited October 21, 2013 by Krataiboy

Old Croc · October 21, 2013

Well said.

The ignorant "Crap on Phuket" hypocrites are everywhere and seemingly unaware of their own stupidity.

The only exceptions may be those who choose to live like a native, in remote villages.

Astounded by the guy who stated the place is not what it was 40 years ago!! Perhaps he could tell us about somewhere that is?

eezergood · October 21, 2013

Window dressing only, part (most some may say) of Phukets appeal (Patong in particluar) is the seedy underbelly! It sells, people want to taste the forbidden

NamKangMan · October 21, 2013

@ Old Croc

"While tourist numbers are growing in Phuket, the crime rate is also climbing.According to police statistics, there were 2,737 crimes in 2006, rising steadily to 4,758 in 2009 and 8,201 last year. So far this year the number of cases has already reached 8,611." - there is now 3 to 4 times the amount of crime on Phuket, than there was in 2006. (even if these figures are to be believed)

These figure represent a big increase, in a relatively short space of time. These increases are over 6 years, not 40 years.

Whilst the tourist arrivals may have increased, as we know, they are mainly package holiday makers, so, I don't think they are the cause of such a sharp increase in crime.

In my opinion, the sharp rise in crime here shows an inept and extremely corrupt police department, an increase in drug abuse and the changing demographic of tourist spending less money on the island.

I can't see the above changing anytime soon, so, I can only see crime getting worse here in the future, and crime is something that we are all at risk of becoming a victim.

Bikkii · October 21, 2013

I will admit that the drug problem in Patong has grown to unbelievable proportions. Is that not the case though with every red light district around the world? Take Kings Cross in Sydney, since 2006 as you use numbers for, the violence, murders, bashings and drug use has made the place a cesspit of a venue. I'm sure this would be the case with other like venues around the world. Perhaps if some of these aggrieved people who come to Phuket (Patong) showed a bit more humility and respect to the Thai people many would not get in such trouble? Just my thoughts....

rjcampbe · October 21, 2013

I agree. There are other beaches that are much nicer and don't have the seedy bars. I have tried quite a few of them and I have found some nice places.

However, the whole island of Phuket is overrun with a level of scams and corruption that I just don't want to deal with.

The last few times I went there were one hassle after another... I just don't need that shit when I'm on holiday.

I wouldn't waste my holiday time in Phuket if you paid for the trip.

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