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Phuket's future should be more clear as issues are resolved in 2012

Will Phuket Change for the Better in 2012? Phuketwan's Future Depends on It

Sunday, January 1, 2012
A Birthday Message to Readers and Sponsors

PHUKET: New Year's Day marks Phuketwan's fourth birthday. Looking back at January 2011, the year began with familiar headlines . . .

Phuket Beaches Losing Quality Fast, FC Phuket Wins VIP Coach, 25m Baht Boost, Rohingya Land on Phuket, Aussie Media Damns Phuket's Jet-Ski Scams . . . .

Other Januaries probably told similar stories. We wish it was as easy to predict what will happen this year as it is to flick back through the recent past.

For Phuketwan, some of the future can be foreseen. When we launched Phuketwan officially on January 1, 2008, it was always our intention to supply a Phuket news service for five years, and no longer. That still remains our intention.

Whatever 2012 brings, it will mark the end of Phuketwan as we know it. We'd like to think that, with the Asean economic community coming in 2015, a bold regional publisher will make us an offer.

We'd like to think that even in a wost-case scenario, if we can't find sufficient supporters to make Phuketwan a break-even concern, we haven't wasted our time.

English-language readers with an interest in Phuket at the beginning of 2012 start the year with a much greater awareness of the issues and themes behind the news than they did in 2008, when there weren't enough Phuket news outlets.

Today Phuket is one of the best-served expat communities in Thailand when it comes to news of different kinds and with different values.

Radio is also growing more competitive, and we predict it's only a matter of time now - probably next year or in 2014 - before Phuket has a twice-weekly English language newspaper.

Phuketwan has gone from strength to strength in the past year as in previous years, as those who look at ranking site alexa.com or other ranking sites can tell you.

Our peak audience one day last year was 16,450 visitors, according to Google Analytics. Phuketwan's own statistics, which run about 15 percent higher than Google Analytics, show us attracting around 4500 visits a day through December 2011 - not bad for a site with a fulltime staff of five.

However, we set our only real target as being to bring as much change for the better on Phuket as we could in the space of five years. Love or hate Phuketwan, we think at the least there is now much greater awareness than there once was of the main themes and issues that make Phuket what it is in January, 2012.

With a year to go, we think it's only fair to let our loyal sponsors and readers know that Phuketwan may not be around in this form or any other form in January, 2013.

Whether Phuket will have changed for the better . . . let's wait and see.

Comments

Comments have been disabled for this article.

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Happy Anniversary - best we buckle in for the next 12 months' ride - interesting times ahead methinks.

Posted by Mister Ree on January 1, 2012 18:55

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Ed. Just because 2012 will end on the 31 December 2012, this is not the time for PhuketWan to curl up its tootsies.
Like it or not, you have up to the minute news and you often print the stories that other media cannot or don't want to.
So, if you could change your intention, many readers world wide will appreciate this. Happy birthday.

Posted by Graham on January 1, 2012 19:14

Editor Comment:

The world won't end on December 31 and we hope the 'Wan won't either. Thanks for your kind thoughts.

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Mr Ed. Time for me to catch you. I did not say the world will end, only 2012 will end and become . . . 2013. MOST of us readers enjoy your articles. Maybe whistle blower will find his perfect dive location and move there . . . sorry wb, we still like you.

Posted by Graham on January 1, 2012 19:44

Editor Comment:

I didn't say you did, Graham.

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I wish someone would do a bi-language paper. If we could read the Thai news, and they ours, that might, just might make a difference.

Posted by Media Watcher on January 1, 2012 19:47

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Am I misunderstanding something here? Surly you've heard the trend is towards electronic media, rather than the printed word. Why do you think your main competitor on the island is improving its web site all the time and now has a very impressive iPad App. If you think you'll find a buyer to publish, then I guess we've got just 12 months 'Phuket Wan' reading, left. Best of luck anyway.

Posted by agogohome on January 1, 2012 22:16

Editor Comment:

If print is in retreat, why are there more newspapers on Phuket than ever before, and all claiming large and growing circulations? We don't have competitors. Our interest is not in making money.

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So if your not interested in making a profit, why bother looking for a publisher?

Posted by agogohome on January 2, 2012 10:05

Editor Comment:

Because while readers use the site for free, I pay. ''Non-profit'' also means non-loss. You get your education now at my expense.

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What ever happens, i do hope it works out! Havn't always seen eye 2 eye but I do love the site and your work. Hope our spirited debates / arguments can continue!

Posted by Joel M on January 2, 2012 11:32

Editor Comment:

Thanks.

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Well, i do hope you find a way to continue. I love the way you approach the issues that concern both tourists, and residents. Such as tuk-tuk and jet-ski scams, corruption, and the general ineptitude and laziness on this island.

Keep going!

Posted by jimbo34 on January 2, 2012 19:03

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@Ed "get your education now at my expense"? Surly your sponsors pay the bills? There's at least three on this page alone. If you're not interested in making a profit, I'll pass you my bank details and you can transfer the surplus. lol

Posted by agogohome on January 3, 2012 09:32

Editor Comment:

Advertising rates on well-read online sites have yet to approach those of unread newspapers.


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