PHUKET'S new Governor, Dr Preecha Ruangjan, delivered his all-important outlook and policy speech today to an audience of about 300 attentive leaders from all island authorities.
He began work on the island on Monday. Today's conference took place at the Metropole Hotel in Phuket City.
Detailed policies will quickly emerge as individual issues arise.
The New Motto: ''A Good Host Makes For A Good Province.''
The Aim: To work hard for the future benefit of Phuket.
Budget: A budget of 174 million baht will cover 29 projects from 23 organisations in 2009.
Property: Building on hills is dangerous and needs to be done safely for fear of landslips. Legal titles will be thoroughly checked before construction. Height limits are essential.
Water: The aim is to be self-sufficient when it comes to water supplies. An increasing population means more water is needed. Conversion of seawater is expensive. Collecting and storing Phuket's rainwater year-round is the answer. Tourism depends on water.
Beaches: All beaches on the island must have public access.
Transport: Public transport is needed along the lines of Singapore and other tourist centres in the region. A four-lane route to the airport is essential.
Garbage: A priority. With six million visitors coming, Phuket's rubbish disposal problem needs to be solved.
Tourism: Agri-tourism will be encouraged, so people can see buffalo working in fields, for example. Rural life should be on display for visitors because there is increasing interest. Tourists shouldn't have to travel to other provinces to see rural life.
Natural Resources: A priority is to protect the natural beauty of Phuket, especially the coast, the coral reefs and the mangrove forests.
Drugs: The aim is to wipe out the use of illegal drugs, still a problem on the island.
Security: As a tourist province with appeal to people from many backgrounds, security remains a high priority. Cooperation is essential and various bodies, especially policing forces, need to work as a team.
Downtown Phuket: More effort needed to bring tourists to the old part of Phuket City, where the island had a distinctive and appealing character.
Phuket Gateway: A puzzle. Tourists do not visit it and the project needs a rethink. Visitors to Phuket need to be impressed on their first trip, so that eventually, they return.
Equality: All organisations on Phuket will be treated as being equally important. There will be no bureaucratic hierarchy.
Poverty: Phuket's poor may be able to help themselves by learning new skills and creating jobs.
Help Centre: The all-purpose Damrongtham Centre at Provincial Hall is available to help people, both Thais and foreigners, solve problems of many different kinds.
Working Hours: The Governor says he is happy to work around the clock if necessary to get the job done.
Live Well: The Governor's personal taste is for vegetables and fish rather than meat, and his preference is for water rather than alcohol.
He began work on the island on Monday. Today's conference took place at the Metropole Hotel in Phuket City.
Detailed policies will quickly emerge as individual issues arise.
The New Motto: ''A Good Host Makes For A Good Province.''
The Aim: To work hard for the future benefit of Phuket.
Budget: A budget of 174 million baht will cover 29 projects from 23 organisations in 2009.
Property: Building on hills is dangerous and needs to be done safely for fear of landslips. Legal titles will be thoroughly checked before construction. Height limits are essential.
Water: The aim is to be self-sufficient when it comes to water supplies. An increasing population means more water is needed. Conversion of seawater is expensive. Collecting and storing Phuket's rainwater year-round is the answer. Tourism depends on water.
Beaches: All beaches on the island must have public access.
Transport: Public transport is needed along the lines of Singapore and other tourist centres in the region. A four-lane route to the airport is essential.
Garbage: A priority. With six million visitors coming, Phuket's rubbish disposal problem needs to be solved.
Tourism: Agri-tourism will be encouraged, so people can see buffalo working in fields, for example. Rural life should be on display for visitors because there is increasing interest. Tourists shouldn't have to travel to other provinces to see rural life.
Natural Resources: A priority is to protect the natural beauty of Phuket, especially the coast, the coral reefs and the mangrove forests.
Drugs: The aim is to wipe out the use of illegal drugs, still a problem on the island.
Security: As a tourist province with appeal to people from many backgrounds, security remains a high priority. Cooperation is essential and various bodies, especially policing forces, need to work as a team.
Downtown Phuket: More effort needed to bring tourists to the old part of Phuket City, where the island had a distinctive and appealing character.
Phuket Gateway: A puzzle. Tourists do not visit it and the project needs a rethink. Visitors to Phuket need to be impressed on their first trip, so that eventually, they return.
Equality: All organisations on Phuket will be treated as being equally important. There will be no bureaucratic hierarchy.
Poverty: Phuket's poor may be able to help themselves by learning new skills and creating jobs.
Help Centre: The all-purpose Damrongtham Centre at Provincial Hall is available to help people, both Thais and foreigners, solve problems of many different kinds.
Working Hours: The Governor says he is happy to work around the clock if necessary to get the job done.
Live Well: The Governor's personal taste is for vegetables and fish rather than meat, and his preference is for water rather than alcohol.
Good fortune to you, Dr Preecha if can do all you promise.
Good fortune forever.
Posted by mouse on November 21, 2008 20:01