PHUKET: A clamor for reliable information about what's happening on Phuket is growing as the island's governor, Maitree Intrusud, provides an update to the regional Army 4 chief in Nakhon Si Thammarat today.
From overstays and visas, taking in taxis, tuk-tuks and parkland encroachment, to the future of beach clubs and tourist bookings, the people of Phuket need to know what's going on.
Local residents in Patong were puzzled last week when the governor did not turn up at a special crisis meeting convened to examine the issue of the beaches and their jobs.
Phuket's elected mayors are putting their futures on the line to implement the directives of the coup commanders. They need guidance and help from Phuket's professional administrators.
Managing an island in crisis is the governor's job.
The head of the National Peace and Order Council, General Prayuth Chan-ocha, delivers his weekly ''Return Happiness to the People'' telecast every Friday night, with subtitles in English, direct to the people of Thailand.
The people of Phuket deserve similar courtesy.
Governor Maitree's personal preference is known to be for secret meetings and compromise. But under the coup command, the exact opposite - transparency and enforcement - are what's in vogue.
With Phuket an international destination where the future of revenues is not just important but critical to Thailand, it's time the governor told the tourism and property industries what's happening and where the island is headed.
High-season marketing is beginning.
What are the brand resorts to tell their regular guests and the new ones they hope to attract?
Is Phuket still a place where investors can buy a property and know their title is secure?
The governor likes to be the first to know what is happening and about to happen, which is fine. But it's also part of his role to keep the people informed accurately about everything.
Secrecy and quiet conversations won't work when people all over Phuket are clamoring to know what their future holds.
The governor should follow General Prayuth's example and provide a weekly media update for Phuket's Thai-language and English-language media.
He should also hold a forum with the honorary consuls within the next week or so to fulfill his obligations to Phuket's international supporters.
At the moment, among everyone from Patong beach vendors to the tourist in Europe puzzling over whether to come to Phuket as usual this high season, a massive number of questions are being asked.
It's time for Governor Maitree to provide answers, regularly and effectively, to everyone.
From overstays and visas, taking in taxis, tuk-tuks and parkland encroachment, to the future of beach clubs and tourist bookings, the people of Phuket need to know what's going on.
Local residents in Patong were puzzled last week when the governor did not turn up at a special crisis meeting convened to examine the issue of the beaches and their jobs.
Phuket's elected mayors are putting their futures on the line to implement the directives of the coup commanders. They need guidance and help from Phuket's professional administrators.
Managing an island in crisis is the governor's job.
The head of the National Peace and Order Council, General Prayuth Chan-ocha, delivers his weekly ''Return Happiness to the People'' telecast every Friday night, with subtitles in English, direct to the people of Thailand.
The people of Phuket deserve similar courtesy.
Governor Maitree's personal preference is known to be for secret meetings and compromise. But under the coup command, the exact opposite - transparency and enforcement - are what's in vogue.
With Phuket an international destination where the future of revenues is not just important but critical to Thailand, it's time the governor told the tourism and property industries what's happening and where the island is headed.
High-season marketing is beginning.
What are the brand resorts to tell their regular guests and the new ones they hope to attract?
Is Phuket still a place where investors can buy a property and know their title is secure?
The governor likes to be the first to know what is happening and about to happen, which is fine. But it's also part of his role to keep the people informed accurately about everything.
Secrecy and quiet conversations won't work when people all over Phuket are clamoring to know what their future holds.
The governor should follow General Prayuth's example and provide a weekly media update for Phuket's Thai-language and English-language media.
He should also hold a forum with the honorary consuls within the next week or so to fulfill his obligations to Phuket's international supporters.
At the moment, among everyone from Patong beach vendors to the tourist in Europe puzzling over whether to come to Phuket as usual this high season, a massive number of questions are being asked.
It's time for Governor Maitree to provide answers, regularly and effectively, to everyone.
"Is Phuket still a place where investors can buy a property and know their title is secure?"
Care to explain? Considering a foreigner may not own land how can their investment be secure?
Posted by Graham on July 29, 2014 11:47
Editor Comment:
"Is Phuket still a place where investors can buy a property and know their title is secure?"
The paragraph doesn't mention foreigners, Graham. In any case, foreigners can own land, under the right conditions, and a condo is certainly ''property.'' Do your research, please.