Phuket officials ponder limiting the number of tourists on island tours
Tanyaluk Sakoot


'This is not just for the sake of tourism businesses; we are worried about the environmental impact as well,' said V/Adm Sayan. Photo: Tanyaluk Sakoot

PHUKET: -- The lead joint-agency law-enforcement task force for Phuket is considering regulating the number of tourists permitted to visit the islands around Phuket for environmental and safety concerns.

The news was announced following the conclusion of the monthly closed-door meeting of the Thailand Marine Enforcement Coordinating Center Area 3 (THAI-MECC3) committee, held at the Royal Phuket City Hotel in Phuket Town this afternoon (Sept 21).

“We are concerned about the volume of tourists visiting the islands around Phuket,” said Vice-Admiral Sayan Prasongsamrej, Commander of the Royal Thai Navy’s Third Area.

“A large number of tourists travel to these islands, so there should be better regulation of how many tourists visit each island,” he explained.

“This is not just for the sake of tourism businesses; we are worried about the environmental impact as well.”

V/Adm Sayan also pointed out that having more tourists joining island tours around Phuket heightened the need for more emergency services to cater to the growing number of people who need them.

“We have to recognize that we have already spent the budget allocated for tourist rescue services for 2016, and we’re still in 2015,” he said.

However, V/Adm Sayan assured that the move to regulate the number of tourists may not be for some time yet.

“We do not have any official plans just yet,” he said. “A plan like this involves many different government departments, including the Phuket Marine Office, among others.”

Phuket Marine Office Chief Phuriphat Teerakulpisut, who was present at the meeting, declined to give his opinion about whether or not regulating the number of tourists visiting islands off Phuket was a good idea.

Source: http://www.thephuketnews.com/phuket-officials-ponder-limiting-the-number-of-tourists-on-island-tours-54204.php


-- Phuket News 2015-09-22

I don't like Phuket because of all the drunken tourists-if I go I prefer the Cape Panwa Hotel-well away from the crowds(i live near Chiang Mai)!

I don't like Phuket because of all the drunken tourists-if I go I prefer the Cape Panwa Hotel-well away from the crowds(i live near Chiang Mai)!

All drunken tourists and expats are long gone. They stay now near Chiang Mai.

I'm pretty sure they're is meant to be a limit of tourist numbers to for example the Similian Islands.

“We have to recognize that we have already spent the budget allocated for tourist rescue services for 2016, and we’re still in 2015,” he said.

Ah, excellent forward planning there...

'This is not just for the sake of tourism businesses; we are worried about the environmental impact as well,' said V/Adm Sayan. Photo: Tanyaluk Sakoot

environment, yeah right, stop burning trash would be a nice one

thai economics : make it more strict and off course, increase the price & ripoffs

“We have to recognize that we have already spent the budget allocated for tourist rescue services for 2016, and we’re still in 2015,” he said.

Ah yes, Mercedes dealer was quite happy and so was lots of Mia noi´s ...

My god the **** from Marine office 5 actually turned up for a meeting.It must have something to do with loss of money then.

I'm pretty sure they're is meant to be a limit of tourist numbers to for example the Similian Islands.

You are probably right.

Get the tourists out of the way so fishing at the parks can continue unhindered.

“We have to recognize that we have already spent the budget allocated for tourist rescue services for 2016, and we’re still in 2015,” he said.

Ah, excellent forward planning there...

I agree. They have already allocated a budget for 2016? I'm awestruck!

What will the Chinese tour groups do if there's not enough boats for all of them? I'm pretty sure that all the tours will continue but they may have to pay a bit more for the privilege!

This is the tool who gave Phuket to the jetskis, allowing hundreds more than are presently being used. He should be replaced and his bank account examined.

“We do not have any official plans just yet,” he said. “A plan like this involves many different government departments, including the Phuket Marine Office, among others.”

Never happen then.

What will the Chinese tour groups do if there's not enough boats for all of them? I'm pretty sure that all the tours will continue but they may have to pay a bit more for the privilege!

With the majority of tourists to Phuket now being Chinese, if the price goes up, which I suspect, as you do, it will, maybe some of them, or perhaps many of them, will not be able to afford an island tour as part of the package holiday.

The whole thing could backfire, or, with the purchasing power of the Chinese, they could boycott the island tours, and then renegotiate back to what is in place now, if not cheaper.

The Chinese tour companies are in a superior bargaining postion on Phuket now.

This guy is from the old Thai school of pushing the market as far as it can afford to go. It worked for some years with westerners, until that market evaporated.

It will not work with the Chinese.