DESPITE the less than encouraging outlook for tourism, at .least one prominent Phuket identity is building a large new resort.
Maitree Narukatpichai, who owns the island's largest hotel, the Hilton Phuket Arcadia Resort and Spa, and Villa Zolitude, is building a new 281-room resort on 70 rai at Nai Thon beach.
Final approval of the permits for the project came today at the meeting of the governor's special committee on the environment.
Khun Maitree, a former president of the Phuket Tourism Association, was only too happy to see positive outcomes ahead for the island and tourism.
''It's a good time to invest,'' he said. ''But you do need to be cautiously optimistic.''
A stable political environment in Thailand would certainly make life easier, he said. The family already owned the land at Nai Thon.
A decision has yet to be made as to whether it's a Hilton or some other brand.
The Hilton Phuket Arcadia at Karon had so many rooms and in so many different styles at varying prices that it inevitably spread its appeal across all markets, he said.
''Tourists have certainly not indicated they are coming this high season, the way they usually would. Even December is down.''
Investment on the island had also slowed.
''If we don't have any catastrophes between now and next high season in 2010-11, prosperity may return to Phuket.''
The committee also approved the new Novotel at Kamala and the Green Place in Phuket City, which had been subjected to extra scrutiny because it is being built on a hillside valley that was once a volcano.
The Green Place will have foundation piles in some of its eight-storey blocks extended to 15 metres deep, about twice the normal depth.
The committee also approved 19 smaller projects of varying sizes around the island.
Maitree Narukatpichai, who owns the island's largest hotel, the Hilton Phuket Arcadia Resort and Spa, and Villa Zolitude, is building a new 281-room resort on 70 rai at Nai Thon beach.
Final approval of the permits for the project came today at the meeting of the governor's special committee on the environment.
Khun Maitree, a former president of the Phuket Tourism Association, was only too happy to see positive outcomes ahead for the island and tourism.
''It's a good time to invest,'' he said. ''But you do need to be cautiously optimistic.''
A stable political environment in Thailand would certainly make life easier, he said. The family already owned the land at Nai Thon.
A decision has yet to be made as to whether it's a Hilton or some other brand.
The Hilton Phuket Arcadia at Karon had so many rooms and in so many different styles at varying prices that it inevitably spread its appeal across all markets, he said.
''Tourists have certainly not indicated they are coming this high season, the way they usually would. Even December is down.''
Investment on the island had also slowed.
''If we don't have any catastrophes between now and next high season in 2010-11, prosperity may return to Phuket.''
The committee also approved the new Novotel at Kamala and the Green Place in Phuket City, which had been subjected to extra scrutiny because it is being built on a hillside valley that was once a volcano.
The Green Place will have foundation piles in some of its eight-storey blocks extended to 15 metres deep, about twice the normal depth.
The committee also approved 19 smaller projects of varying sizes around the island.
