‘Special Admin’ tops requests
Wirintra Paphakityotphat, head of the Tourism Council of Thailand (TCT) Region 11 branch, which represents Phuket, Phang Nga and Krabi, has present a list of four formal requests to Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin ‒ the first of which is to permit Phuket become a ‘Special Administrative Zone’.
The formal requests were presented to PM Srettha during his visit to Phuket last Friday (Apr 19). The requests, presented to PM Srettha while he was at the Heroines Monument for a briefing on the underpass to be built at the site, were aimed at elevating Phuket to internationally recognised tourism standards, Ms Wirintra said.
Top of the list was to establish a ‘special economic zone’ for the tourism industry in Phuket. The request was for Phuket to receive a budget allocation of not less than 1-5% of the revenue generated by Phuket’s service and tourism sector that is currently handed over to the central government.
The Department of Tourism, under the Ministry of Tourism and Sports, would be responsible for ensuring any requirements were complied with, Ms Wirintra noted.
According to the Ministry of Tourism and Sports, Phuket welcomed 11.3mn visitors in 2023, marking a significant increase since the end of the pandemic. Most visitors were foreign (75%), contributing to a tourism income of at least B388 billion, Ms Wirintra noted.
In January and February this year, Phuket welcomed some 2.4mn tourists, demonstrating a year-on-year growth of 38%, she added.
Before his visit to Phuket, PM Srettha in Bangkok on Apr 18 told the press that he had not received a formal request from Phuket City Municipality asking for the government to consider making Phuket a ‘special administrative zone’ ‒ despite previous reports.
“If I receive a letter from Phuket City Municipality, it will be taken into consideration and we will gather opinions from all sectors first,” the PM said.
“Currently, the government gives importance to Phuket province because it is a large province in terms of driving the economy,” he added.
Regarding Phuket’s potential as a special economic zone, the Prime Minister emphasised the need to “assess its suitability”, considering whether it aligns with tourism objectives and specific business types suitable for a tourism area.
“It would be necessary to consider whether it is needed, and exactly what would be meant by a ‘special economic zone’?” Mr Srettha said.
“Maybe it’s inappropriate… We want to stimulate tourism, but we must consider its suitability and we must request specific details first,” he added.
“But if it is appropriate in terms of the type of business that goes along with a tourism destination, we would be happy to take it into consideration,” PM Srettha said.
“There are both short-term and long-term plans to support the management of the province. We are confident that the government’s tourism policy will make Phuket and the lives of the people of Phuket, better,” he concluded.
MORE REQUESTS
The second request presented by Ms Wirintra was for building a community marina or marine transportation service around Phuket, involving 10 piers with a budget of B300 million.
The initiative aimed to expand transportation options, ease congestion on land and boost income for local residents, Ms Wirintra explained.
“Additionally, there are plans to develop a large cruise ship terminal under the responsibility of the Marine Department,” she said.
The third request was to approve a budget of B397.524mn for an iIntegrated project to increase the efficiency of traffic management in Phuket through an AI system, with the Phuket Provincial Office being responsible for the project.
The fourth, and final ‒ and often repeated ‒ request was for the central government to provide assistance to small hotels, pending follow-up and approval, concerning the determination of areas and environmental protection measures within Phuket by the end of April, as per a draft announcement from the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment.