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Phuket Marine hub vision gains momentum
Nattha Thepbamrung


Ao Po Marina will move smaller boats to the more shallow area, to make room for more yachts and mega yachts.

PHUKET: -- The government’s grand plans to turn Phuket into a high quality marine hub is starting to gain momentum with various projects starting to see fruition.

Phuket Governor Nisit Jansomwong voiced his agreement with the "Marine hub Vision" and updated media on progress at a press conference on Monday (February 9).

“Phuket has good potential to become the hub. We have four private owned marinas plus one governments marina and the deep sea port.

“At Chalong Pier, we have a one stop service for tourist information [immigration services] and paper checking for any boat and ship arriving in Phuket while all ships will be installed with VST [Vessel Traffic System:a marine traffic monitoring system established by harbour or port authorities, similar to air traffic control for aircraft.] and a fire rescue boat has been ordered under a budget of B25 million which will be placed in Rassada Pier.

He added that there is at least one more boat officials are considering ordering and stationing at Chalong Pier. While he did not disclose specific details he affirmed that the boat would “help increase safety confident among yacht cruisers.

Gov Nisit continued. “I think we are quite ready to welcome more yacht and cruise ship travellers. What I’m concerned with is that we should have more garages for boat repairing or maintenance.

“We have one but it may not enough for the increasing number in the future. I think we also should put the yacht repairing maintenance study in the technical college's educational program.

Also, we should be concerned more with basic infrastructure [utilities] such as water, electricity and transportation or even waste management. All these things must be well managed before we really become the hub.”

See related story about Ao Chalong Marina being shut for repairs.

He went on to share his vision for organizing one “international event” co-organized among all marinas in Phuket.

“Phuket marinas always have events separately. I think if all the marinas island wide held an event together, it would help promote Phuket as a hub of yacht and cruise ship as well.”

Following the Deep Sea Port’s EIA gaining approval late last month, the governor was optimistic about progress, noting that dock would be extended from 360 meters to 420 meters, and that the treasury office is working closer to awarding the concessions to investors.

Ao Por extension

Meanwhile, expansion of the pier Ao Po Grand Marina in the northeast of the island is also underway.

Somkid Ruampanpong, General Director of the marina told the Phuket News that the extension of about 80 meters will mean an additional 2,000 square meters for mooring and anchoring.

“The new extension part will allow for 25-30 more boats. We are trying to move speed boats into more shallow areas, and thus provide more [mooring] space for yachts and mega yachts,” Mr Somkid said.

The whole marina covers around 10,000 square meters and can accommodate 160-180 yachts, including “mega yachts” and “superyachts”.

“Around 40 per cent here are yachts and mega yachts. In the future we hope to bring in more and more mega yachts.”

The Ministry of Tourism has also jumped on board in promoting the island to cruise ship and yachting segment.

Emphasis on quality over quantity

The Ministry of Tourism and Sports also supports plans to position Phuket as a regional marine hub, but a lot still needs to be done to ensure ‘quality over quantity’ economic benefits for Phuket, a tourism official has said.

Tourism reps convened with local government officials in a meeting at Royal Phuket City hotel on Feburary 4 to discuss strengthening tourism networks in a five-province tourism cluster that includes Phuket, Phang Nga, Krabi, Ranong and Satun.

Attending the meeting and a proceeding tour of the Phuket Deep Sea Port, Tourism Department Deputy Director General Kajorn Veerajai told The Phuket News that as part of national strategy, the government aims to ensure that marina and port facilities on the island meet international standards.

Commenting on market potential, Mr Karon said, “One traveller on a cruise ship spends approximately B10,000 per day so we need to build the infrastructure to support this group of tourists.”

He noted that out of the 85 cruise trips that visit Phuket annually, 70 per cent are from Singapore and Malaysia, and the other 30pc are from Europe and the United States.

“Now we have the port mainly for marine logistics, but if we add marina-like services, then we need to have a passenger terminal and make it similar to an airport; we need to have immigration, customs, public health office, animal quarantine station, and other related facilities.”

In other words, “We have to make it convenient for tourists who don't want to go into town, to spend their money in the marina area.”

The problem, he explained is the “lack of motivation” for tourists to spend their money.

“For example, three or five hour trip, where can they go? We have to think for them. Otherwise they won't know. We have to try to get them to go out. Once they land, where can they go, what and where can they buy?

Deputy Director General Kajorn Veerajai said that one of his main objectives in Phuket was to collect information about the Deep Sea Port.

“I was told that this port can support ships of up to 268 metres long, which requires waterway depth of at least nine metres. So we have to discuss how this can be developed to take bigger ships.”

Mr Karon also supports bringing more cruise passengers directly to Patong.

“Patong lacks adequate mooring and marina [facilities]. Currently, the ships have to anchor at sea and transfer passengers to shore. This needs to be developed and the Ministry of Tourism and Sport will support this project.”

He stressed that the income is more important than tourist numbers, and that lobbying for more lax regulations on high-yield yachting and marine passengers is also a priority of the Ministry.

“The Minister will try to discuss with relevant bodies to ease the law for foreign yacht owners because we are not law makers … I would like to have one central database in which everyone could benefit from.

Additional reporting by Nattapat Tuarob

Source: http://www.thephuketnews.com/phuket-marine-hub-vision-gains-momentum-50983.php

-- Phuket News 2015-02-12