PHUKET: Just imagine the surprised looks on the faces of delegates to the ITOP forum, which brings together representatives from some of the world's best tourist islands on Phuket today.
One minute they were looking at brochures of Phuket with beaches covered in sunbeds and umbrellas. The next, they're actually on the island and taking in the glorious sea vistas that the military coup in Thailand ordained as a national priority.
The lesson is likely to be absorbed and carried back to Jeju (Korea), Hainan (China), Okinawa (Japan), Bali (Indonesia), Cebu (Philippines), Penang (Malaysia), the Canary Islands (Spain), Zanzibar (Tanzania), Sri Lanka and Hawaii.
The Hawaiian representative will be able to tell everyone whether Thailand's beaches are now better than those of the US state, as tourism officials in Bangkok claim.
We suspect there is a diplomatic form of words for saying, ''All beaches are equal, although some are more equal than others,'' if only we were allowed to adapt quotations from 'Animal Farm,' that other famous work by George Orwell.
The delegates to the eighteenth Inter-Island Tourism Policy Forum (ITOP) were due to dine at a formal welcome at the Angsana Laguna Phuket Resort last night and they settle down to business today.
ITOP began in 1995 and Phuket, was a bit of a latercomer, joining three years ago.
''Sustainable Maritime Tourism'' is this year's main conference theme. It will be intriguing to hear whether most of the world's top tourist islands are pro or anti jet-ski, and whether the race is on to offer dolphinariums.
Phuket's Governor, Maitree Intrusud, opens the conference today. Tomorrow the delegates get their chance to go sight-seeing.
One minute they were looking at brochures of Phuket with beaches covered in sunbeds and umbrellas. The next, they're actually on the island and taking in the glorious sea vistas that the military coup in Thailand ordained as a national priority.
The lesson is likely to be absorbed and carried back to Jeju (Korea), Hainan (China), Okinawa (Japan), Bali (Indonesia), Cebu (Philippines), Penang (Malaysia), the Canary Islands (Spain), Zanzibar (Tanzania), Sri Lanka and Hawaii.
The Hawaiian representative will be able to tell everyone whether Thailand's beaches are now better than those of the US state, as tourism officials in Bangkok claim.
We suspect there is a diplomatic form of words for saying, ''All beaches are equal, although some are more equal than others,'' if only we were allowed to adapt quotations from 'Animal Farm,' that other famous work by George Orwell.
The delegates to the eighteenth Inter-Island Tourism Policy Forum (ITOP) were due to dine at a formal welcome at the Angsana Laguna Phuket Resort last night and they settle down to business today.
ITOP began in 1995 and Phuket, was a bit of a latercomer, joining three years ago.
''Sustainable Maritime Tourism'' is this year's main conference theme. It will be intriguing to hear whether most of the world's top tourist islands are pro or anti jet-ski, and whether the race is on to offer dolphinariums.
Phuket's Governor, Maitree Intrusud, opens the conference today. Tomorrow the delegates get their chance to go sight-seeing.
'The Hawaiian representative will be able to tell everyone whether Thailand's beaches are now better than those of the US state, as tourism officials in Bangkok claim.'
Start with keeping the beaches clean, place rubbish bins on every 25m coast line and fine people 5000THB per plastic bag or foam box they leave on the beach.
Perhaps then try again saying Thailand's beaches are 'better' than US beaches. Thailand's beaches are absolutely beautiful but will be even more so when people stop trashing the beach.
A government body with authority should manage, maintain and patrol beaches in Phuket in an attempt to stop the pollution and potential abuse of pubic facilities once the army pulls out.
Posted by Richard on August 21, 2014 10:28