THE CEO of a Phuket group of resorts has called for a greater variety of tourism activities, more control over development and an end to corruption on the island.
Javed Shaikh heads Horizon Hotels and Resorts, which has two establishments in Patong and a third in Karon.
''Do we have to wait to talk about our island's problems only when they appear on the BBC or CNN?'' he asked during an interview with Phuketwan ''When will we wake up?
''Don't you think everybody knows what's going on in Patong? ''Everbody knows what's going on, every department knows what's going on, and who is doing what.''
He said that the jet-ski rip-offs may have received international media attention recently, but the issue had been there for a long time. And it was not just about jet-skis.
''Rent-a-cars, motorbikes, tuk-tuks . . . people have been complaining for many years about these things, about tailors harassing them on the streets.''
One case Mr Shaikh mentioned involved a guest who returned a hire-car, to be faced with a large bill for ''scratches.'' The guest was due to fly out that day, had no time to negotiate through authorities who may have been able to help, and so had the choice of paying up or missing the flight.
''If something bad happens to us, We will come back and tell our family and friends as well,'' he said.
''People who are supposed to actually stop these things don't stop them. And when you complain, they get upset with you for complaining. I think we should address these things before people suffer.''
Drownings at beaches in the monsoon season, especially at Karon:
''We have to be honest. Maybe sometimes out of our own selfishness, we try to avoid these kinds of topics for financial benefit. For four or five months, the weather is so bad it's a big risk to go into the sea unnecessarily. I think it's stupidity on the part of the tourists as well. When they see the red flag, they shouldn't go. I think the tourists themselves have to be careful. You see a red flag, you have to respect that. But maybe we could do more, I think.''
Why Phuket needs to have more year-round activities:
''India and China economically are growing a lot . Indians are not so much interested in watersport. Other places have good zoos, aquariums. There are a lot of things we need to do where people can play for long periods of time, too. For two or three days, people will want to come to Phuket. Many people do not come for the beaches. Visitors will come and go to Phi Phi for a day trip, and also go to Phuket FantaSea. What else is there to do? Phuket has a long way to go. If our infrastructure is not proper and if we are going after quantity, not quality . . .''
The economy: still a long way to go for recovery:
''I think the next high season is going to be the worst that I have seen. People giving 60 percent or 70 percent discounts is not good for the long term. People seem intent on quantity, not quality. We might end up becoming just like what happened to Pattaya. The economic cycle comes and goes. We should always think long-term. Just blindly reducing the prices doesn't make sense. What I am more worried about is the image of Phuket.''
The need to control development so the island does not become a big, rambling city:
''Phuket is one of the best-known islands around the world now, although we have a long way to go. It depends how we go. We still don't have all the top resort brands. If we maintain infrastructure, if there is just construction, construction everywhere, this will become more like a commercial island rather than for tourists. I think commercialisation is necessary, but only to a certain limit. Once it crosses over we will be more like a city, rather than being an island. That feeling will not be here. When I first came here and you drove from Karon to Patong, you had to overtake one or two cars. Now there's too much traffic.''
He adds: ''This is my home. So it's very natural that I want everything on Phuket to be the best.''
Horizon is a Phuketwan sponsor.
Locals Turn Lifesavers to Spare Phuket DrowningsJaved Shaikh heads Horizon Hotels and Resorts, which has two establishments in Patong and a third in Karon.
''Do we have to wait to talk about our island's problems only when they appear on the BBC or CNN?'' he asked during an interview with Phuketwan ''When will we wake up?
''Don't you think everybody knows what's going on in Patong? ''Everbody knows what's going on, every department knows what's going on, and who is doing what.''
He said that the jet-ski rip-offs may have received international media attention recently, but the issue had been there for a long time. And it was not just about jet-skis.
''Rent-a-cars, motorbikes, tuk-tuks . . . people have been complaining for many years about these things, about tailors harassing them on the streets.''
One case Mr Shaikh mentioned involved a guest who returned a hire-car, to be faced with a large bill for ''scratches.'' The guest was due to fly out that day, had no time to negotiate through authorities who may have been able to help, and so had the choice of paying up or missing the flight.
''If something bad happens to us, We will come back and tell our family and friends as well,'' he said.
''People who are supposed to actually stop these things don't stop them. And when you complain, they get upset with you for complaining. I think we should address these things before people suffer.''
Drownings at beaches in the monsoon season, especially at Karon:
''We have to be honest. Maybe sometimes out of our own selfishness, we try to avoid these kinds of topics for financial benefit. For four or five months, the weather is so bad it's a big risk to go into the sea unnecessarily. I think it's stupidity on the part of the tourists as well. When they see the red flag, they shouldn't go. I think the tourists themselves have to be careful. You see a red flag, you have to respect that. But maybe we could do more, I think.''
Why Phuket needs to have more year-round activities:
''India and China economically are growing a lot . Indians are not so much interested in watersport. Other places have good zoos, aquariums. There are a lot of things we need to do where people can play for long periods of time, too. For two or three days, people will want to come to Phuket. Many people do not come for the beaches. Visitors will come and go to Phi Phi for a day trip, and also go to Phuket FantaSea. What else is there to do? Phuket has a long way to go. If our infrastructure is not proper and if we are going after quantity, not quality . . .''
The economy: still a long way to go for recovery:
''I think the next high season is going to be the worst that I have seen. People giving 60 percent or 70 percent discounts is not good for the long term. People seem intent on quantity, not quality. We might end up becoming just like what happened to Pattaya. The economic cycle comes and goes. We should always think long-term. Just blindly reducing the prices doesn't make sense. What I am more worried about is the image of Phuket.''
The need to control development so the island does not become a big, rambling city:
''Phuket is one of the best-known islands around the world now, although we have a long way to go. It depends how we go. We still don't have all the top resort brands. If we maintain infrastructure, if there is just construction, construction everywhere, this will become more like a commercial island rather than for tourists. I think commercialisation is necessary, but only to a certain limit. Once it crosses over we will be more like a city, rather than being an island. That feeling will not be here. When I first came here and you drove from Karon to Patong, you had to overtake one or two cars. Now there's too much traffic.''
He adds: ''This is my home. So it's very natural that I want everything on Phuket to be the best.''
Horizon is a Phuketwan sponsor.
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Well Well WellL It is about time someone stood up. Well done Horizon Beach Resort, some of the others just turn a blind eye .
hip hip horay
Posted by Peter J Notley on October 12, 2009 18:09