Phuket To Learn From Shanghai On Town Planning

[george]

Phuket to learn from Shanghai on town planning: official

BANGKOK: -- The authorities of Thailand's southern resort island of Phuket hope to borrow experience and expertise from China's Shanghai to develop the province in order to attract more tourists, the Thai News Agency reported Monday.

Before leaving for Shanghai Sunday to view the Chinese city's town planning arrangements, Deputy Phuket Governor Winai Buapradit said the island province would draw on Shanghai's town plans for its own provincial development.

The province has proposed town plans for four separate communities on the island, which under government regulations willhave to be completed by the end of 2005.

Additional funding will come from the Department of Public Works and Town and Country Planning for three more community planning projects.

Praising the "European" style in which Shanghai has been planned, Winai said that both Phuket and the Chinese economic miracle city of Shanghai shared a rapid development curve.

He expressed confidence that the plans could be modified to suit Phuket, making it a beautiful island that would attract more tourists.

--www.chinaview.cn 2004-04-19