Officials reconsidering 13-year-old Ao Phuket project

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Officials reconsidering 13-year-old Ao Phuket project
The Phuket News


A computer-generated image made in 2008 images of what Ao Phuket could look like. Photo: LMG Marine

PHUKET: -- Officials have are reconsidering plans for a project proposed 13 years ago which they help will boast the island’s economy.

The Ao Phuket project, originally proposed back in 2003, would see two new islands created off Phuket using a budget of around B200 billion.

Discussions were held about reconsidering the Ao Phuket project at a meeting held by Governor Chamroen Tipayapongtada at Provincial Hall on Tuesday (June 14) together with a committee made up of government officials and the private sector aimed at solving economic issues on the island.

Also in attendance at the meeting were Vice Governor Prajiad Aksornthammakul, representatives from the Phuket Chamber of Commerce, Phuket Tourism Business Association, Real Estate Association Phuket National Farmers Council and others.

Gov Chamroen said, “What was discussed most today was reconsidering the Ao Phuket project that was first brought to the table 13 years ago. The project was brought to our attention by the Department of Public Works Town & Country Planing.

“The original plan for the Ao Phuket project was to create two new islands covering 2000 rai called MICE and Marina on reclaimed land off Phuket City’s Saphan Hin public park.

Full story: http://www.thephuketnews.com/officials-reconsidering-13-year-old-ao-phuket-project-57880.php


-- Phuket News 2016-06-16

[LivinginKata]

dreaming again - of how much they can skim off ...

[eisfeld]

200 billion THB? How does anyone even consider this viable? Even if that thing should only break even in 25 years, you'd still be looking at several billion THB per month in needed revenue. It's completely lunatic.

Also why would a project like this require 200 billion THB? Sure, building artifical islands is expensive but it's not THAT big.

This has got to be the most unrealistic project proposal that I've seen so far - by a big margin.

[madmitch]

They've never been able to get the budget for a convention centre on land so the chances of an investment from the Government or anywhere else of this nature is, I would guess, precisely zero.

[Emster23]

Brilliant use of country's limited resources. This will so help rice farmers, rubber farmers, small shop keepers.... Their total disregard of helping anyone but themselves, the idea national budget is their personal piggybank is astounding

[mike324]

Better to spend that money on improving education for the future of Thailand.....

[Estrada]

I worked on this proposal in 2003 with the architect and he had found a loophole in Thai Law which allowed a Casino to be built. No way was the project B200Billion. I just threw all the plans and specifications away last year as I thought this project was dead in the water so to speak. At B200 Billion it surely still is, even if they do build a Casino.

[Dancin Dna 11]

Nice to see a comedy piece on Thai Visa.

[cloudhopper]

Why not? Just show off the Chalong marina to show them what is possible when they try real hard..

[eisfeld]

I worked on this proposal in 2003 with the architect and he had found a loophole in Thai Law which allowed a Casino to be built. No way was the project B200Billion. I just threw all the plans and specifications away last year as I thought this project was dead in the water so to speak. At B200 Billion it surely still is, even if they do build a Casino.

Interesting. A casino is they only thing that could recover money in the billions. But if there was a loophole then I'm sure some private companies would have jumped on this a long time ago. Or does the loophole require the government to build it?

Do you have more information on this loophole?

[LivinginKata]

I worked on this proposal in 2003 with the architect and he had found a loophole in Thai Law which allowed a Casino to be built. No way was the project B200Billion. I just threw all the plans and specifications away last year as I thought this project was dead in the water so to speak. At B200 Billion it surely still is, even if they do build a Casino.

Interesting. A casino is they only thing that could recover money in the billions. But if there was a loophole then I'm sure some private companies would have jumped on this a long time ago. Or does the loophole require the government to build it?

Do you have more information on this loophole?

Any casino build would draw in HUGE amounts of investment money as they would make HUGE profits and draw in many more Chinese high rollers. BUT - no law changes even in the wind to allow casinos in Thailand.