MANY people on Phuket say that the island is a long way short of being overdeveloped. There is space for more resorts, condos and villas.
What they argue may be true, if the sole measure of development is the amount of concrete covering what were once green, natural areas or plantations.
Bear in mind, though, the permanent changes that have already been wrought.
Patong Bay was once home to turtles and dolphins. Did the resort town become overdeveloped on the day when the last turtles and dolphins swam away?
The island's leading holiday centre should be an appropriate example when decision-makers contemplate whether they want unrestricted development, or a balance between construction and nature.
But a balance means placing a limit on construction.
Like Patong, Phuket is, to many people, not yet completely developed. But how will we know when that point is reached?
And who or what will stop the hammering and the sawing on the day when we achieve perfection: complete, satisfactory development, with appropriate infrastructure?
If the sawing and the hammering are allowed to continue past that point, it seems likely that the island will have to cope with the horrors of overdevelopment the very next day.
Who will warn us as that day draws near?
The concept of ''sustainable'' development is also often talked about by island leaders.
But now that the turtles and dolphins have gone, with other wildlife certain to follow, what is there to sustain?
At least some maximum limits to development have now been revealed.
Phuket International Airport will run out of space once authorities build a new terminal and tarmac capable of handling 17 million visitors a year, about three times the present number.
That should make Phuket's planners ask yet another question:
Will Phuket be as pleasant a place to go for a holiday then as it is now? Or will it seem just a little crowded, even ugly?
Perhaps at that point, Patong officials will be contemplating erecting sculpted reminders of another lost species to put alongside the fibreglass dolphins and turtles: the happy tourist.
Do you have an opinion about the rate of development on the island? Tell us what you think in the comment box below!
What they argue may be true, if the sole measure of development is the amount of concrete covering what were once green, natural areas or plantations.
Bear in mind, though, the permanent changes that have already been wrought.
Patong Bay was once home to turtles and dolphins. Did the resort town become overdeveloped on the day when the last turtles and dolphins swam away?
The island's leading holiday centre should be an appropriate example when decision-makers contemplate whether they want unrestricted development, or a balance between construction and nature.
But a balance means placing a limit on construction.
Like Patong, Phuket is, to many people, not yet completely developed. But how will we know when that point is reached?
And who or what will stop the hammering and the sawing on the day when we achieve perfection: complete, satisfactory development, with appropriate infrastructure?
If the sawing and the hammering are allowed to continue past that point, it seems likely that the island will have to cope with the horrors of overdevelopment the very next day.
Who will warn us as that day draws near?
The concept of ''sustainable'' development is also often talked about by island leaders.
But now that the turtles and dolphins have gone, with other wildlife certain to follow, what is there to sustain?
At least some maximum limits to development have now been revealed.
Phuket International Airport will run out of space once authorities build a new terminal and tarmac capable of handling 17 million visitors a year, about three times the present number.
That should make Phuket's planners ask yet another question:
Will Phuket be as pleasant a place to go for a holiday then as it is now? Or will it seem just a little crowded, even ugly?
Perhaps at that point, Patong officials will be contemplating erecting sculpted reminders of another lost species to put alongside the fibreglass dolphins and turtles: the happy tourist.
Do you have an opinion about the rate of development on the island? Tell us what you think in the comment box below!
