PHUKET: All of Phuket's west coast beaches are to come under the scrutiny of the Senate Standing Committee on Tourism on a grand tour tomorrow before a crisis summit over the beaches the following day.
The Minister for Tourism and Sport, Somsak Pureesrisak, will head Thursday's gathering of all of Phuket's mayors - the people who are supposed to protect Phuket's beaches.
The standing committee, chaired by Senator Tunyaratt Achariyachai, herself a Phuket resort owner, will be at the summit as well.
And in a warmup today, Vice Governor Jamleran Tipayapongtada gave Phuket's mayors a dressing down for their do-nothing approach to Phuket's beaches.
''You people should be taking the low season to fix the problem,'' he told the mayors at a meeting at Phuket Provincial Hall in Phuket City.
''Instead, you've done nothing. Shame on you all.'' He said it might take another tsunami to clean up Phuket's beaches properly.
Phuketwan has said that Phuket's beaches must be saved from commercialisation and poor management. The level of interest in Phuket's beaches could not be more intense right now.
Bangkok's top tourism committee will tomorrow begin a tour from Phuket International Airport with Nai Yang then swing on to Nai Thon then Bang Tao and Surin, Laem Singh, Kamala and Kalim, Patong, Karon, Kata and the rest.
In readiness, Senator Tunyaratt has compiled photographs to show the committee and the minister the problems at the beaches in high season, when the sand disappears under umbrellas and loungers.
With tomorrow's inspection tour followed by Thursday's summit, it appears Phuket's beaches are finally getting the attention they deserve.
Senator Thanyarat has done some research of her own. She says that Surin, the perfect Phuket beach that HRH The King and HRH the Queen visited in the 1950s, was now ''absolutely ugly.''
Vice Governor Jamleran appeared close to losing his temper with the mayors at today's meeting, accusing them of being more interested in the money than protecting Phuket's prized posessions.
Phuketwan does not believe the local mayors can be trusted to properly protect Phuket's beaches.
We have recommended establishment of an independent Phuket Beach Authority to put the money made on Phuket beaches back into preservation and protection for future generations.
The Minister for Tourism and Sport, Somsak Pureesrisak, will head Thursday's gathering of all of Phuket's mayors - the people who are supposed to protect Phuket's beaches.
The standing committee, chaired by Senator Tunyaratt Achariyachai, herself a Phuket resort owner, will be at the summit as well.
And in a warmup today, Vice Governor Jamleran Tipayapongtada gave Phuket's mayors a dressing down for their do-nothing approach to Phuket's beaches.
''You people should be taking the low season to fix the problem,'' he told the mayors at a meeting at Phuket Provincial Hall in Phuket City.
''Instead, you've done nothing. Shame on you all.'' He said it might take another tsunami to clean up Phuket's beaches properly.
Phuketwan has said that Phuket's beaches must be saved from commercialisation and poor management. The level of interest in Phuket's beaches could not be more intense right now.
Bangkok's top tourism committee will tomorrow begin a tour from Phuket International Airport with Nai Yang then swing on to Nai Thon then Bang Tao and Surin, Laem Singh, Kamala and Kalim, Patong, Karon, Kata and the rest.
In readiness, Senator Tunyaratt has compiled photographs to show the committee and the minister the problems at the beaches in high season, when the sand disappears under umbrellas and loungers.
With tomorrow's inspection tour followed by Thursday's summit, it appears Phuket's beaches are finally getting the attention they deserve.
Senator Thanyarat has done some research of her own. She says that Surin, the perfect Phuket beach that HRH The King and HRH the Queen visited in the 1950s, was now ''absolutely ugly.''
Vice Governor Jamleran appeared close to losing his temper with the mayors at today's meeting, accusing them of being more interested in the money than protecting Phuket's prized posessions.
Phuketwan does not believe the local mayors can be trusted to properly protect Phuket's beaches.
We have recommended establishment of an independent Phuket Beach Authority to put the money made on Phuket beaches back into preservation and protection for future generations.
Regardless of what whoever may think the right approach, emphasis or solution should be, the fact that Phuket issues are getting a LOT more attention from those whose opinions really matter can only be seen as a very positive development indeed.
Senators, Ministers and countless Ambassadors are taking time from their busy schedules to address Phuket issues.
Even if nothing changed in the near future, at least a LOT more people are made aware what SHOULD change.
Eventually there will be someone with much more clout and power than anyone else on Phuket who will put his (or her) foot down and heads start rolling.
Posted by ThaiMike on June 11, 2013 17:12