Phuket needs government support to move forward
Phuket Chamber of Com
merce (PCC) President Thanusak Phungdet has urged the Thai government to continue supporting Phuket in its efforts to raise tourism to a new level in parallel with developing alternative income sources in line with GEMMSST strategy and
preparing to host the World Specialized Expo 2028
In his overview of the Phuket economy for Radio Thailand Phuket, Mr Thanusak
said that he wants the government “to never stop supporting
the tourism sector to develop further”.
PCC President specifically
mentioned the Tour Teaw Thai program aimed at helping tour
group operators by offering a 40% subsidy discount on tour packages. The scheme has been recently extended by the government to the end of September.
“Thai Teaw Thai is a project encouraging people to travel more throughout the country generating a constant cash flow for businesses,” Mr
Thanusak said.
While tourism remains the
key pillar of Phuket’s economy,
the private and government sectors are also working to develop other industries in line with GEMMSST strategy.
“Both private and government sectors work together to create new business pillars, more than ever. It is important
to improve the economy and the well-being of the people,” PCC Chief stressed.
Adopted amid the coronavirus crisis, the GEMMSST
policy is the government and private industry push to develop Phuket in the fields of Gastronomy, Education, Medi
cal & Wellness, Marina Hub, Sports & Events, Smart City and Tuna in order to broaden the island’s economic base to be less dependent on tourism.
Last but not least, Mr Thanusak stressed that support is needed for Phuket in bidding for the right to host the World Specialized Expo in 2028. The PCC President believes that the neighbouring
provinces of Krabi and Phang Nga should join forces with Phuket as the whole Andaman region will benefit from the event.
The Thailand Convention and Exhibition Bureau (TCEB)
earlier said it estimates that income generated from hosting the expo will be at least B40 billion and create jobs for
about 100,000 people. The previous World Specialized Expo, held in 2017 in the Kazakhstan
capital Nur-Sultan, attracted almost 4 million visitors.
“However, the aim to develop the economy of Phuket is to be strong. This includes cooperation from all sectors and joining forces to keep the economy strong and stable. And separate gratitude to Thai people who still choose to visit Phuket,” Mr Thanusak
concluded.
Mr Thanusak, a long-stand
ing mediator between Phuket businesses and the government,
has strongly championed ideas
hoped to revive Phuket’s devastated tourism industry, and has been vocal in his criticism
of the lack of support from the government for business operators and employers.