Phuket eyes tourist boon from Asian Beach Games

[webfact]

Phuket eyes tourist boon from Asian Beach Games
By Coconuts Bangkok



PHUKET: -- Starting today, Phuket will be the first edition of the event to see competition in beach track and field, which features 60-meter sprints, shot put, long jump, high jump and cross country. Jet-skiing, water polo, body building, Russian martial art sambo and the croquet-style woodball are also among a varied program to be contested over 10 days in the Thai resort.

Thailand's tourism sector is desperate for good news after the murder of two British holidaymakers on a normally tranquil island in September compounded the damage done by protests that led to a May coup on the kingdom's reputation as a tourist paradise.

"The games are good for any host country," Virat Patee, director of the Sports Authority of Thailand in Phuket, told AFP. "In the coming years tourist numbers will probably increase as we can use the Beach Games as a selling point," he said, adding resorts such as Phuket "cannot stand on the same spot" amid fierce competition for tourist dollars across the region.

Full story: http://bangkok.coconuts.co//2014/11/14/phuket-eyes-tourist-boon-asian-beach-games


-- Coconuts Bangkok 2014-11-14

[alexanderkaufman]

How many of the sports above are offered to Thai students at an elementary or high school level? And how much did the government invest in bringing the event to Phuket?

[Lokie]

Is a joke right? 'Tourist numbers will probably increase?'

Err, well no, not while the screw is turned and all bars along Bangla closed for 2am and the Big three clubs music off at 2.30, out by 3am... was last night anyway and rumours abound... Tourists come here to party, why fly halfway around the world to place who's nightspots close earlier than most other countries... Nope think that will not be a winner there... Talk about biting the hand that feeds you? Amazing Thailand

Common knowledge around Patong; for the games all venues to adhere to the rules (a-hem, lol) Another year or two of crap and one day there will be not too many coming here to spend money..

Edited November 14, 2014 by Lokie

[maidee]

lets give the boys a push in the back

jet-skiing?

[Felt 35]

Where do they arrange cross country?