Tourism News

Tourism News Phuketwan Tourism News
facebook recommendations

NEWS ALERTS

Sign up now for our News Alert emails and the latest breaking news plus new features.

Click to subscribe

Existing subscribers can unsubscribe here

RSS FEEDS

Phuket Governor Reassures Tourists on Tsunami

Phuket Governor Reassures Tourists on Tsunami

Thursday, December 23, 2010
FORTUNE TELLERS' predictions of a second tsunami have led the Governor of Phuket to take the unusual step of reassuring visitors by issuing a media release in English.

Governor Tri Augkaradacha says in the letter that all efforts are being made to ensure the safety of tourists. He writes: ''Based on the most advanced technology, it is absolutely impossible to predict when and where a tsunami would strike.

''However our National Disaster Warning Centre has been working around the clock to closely monitor any geological movement that will result in a tsunami and will give us early warning if there is a sign of such a disaster.

''The early warning would be communicated to the public via all branches of mass media, including TV, radio or SMS.''

After detailing cooperation processes with international agencies and the information expected from tsunami warning buoys off the coast, Governor Tri goes on to say:

''For our tourists, all hotels in the high risk areas have been instructed to distribute the documents on safety instructions for the tsunami evacuation process to their guests in order to ensure that every tourist is well aware and can appropriately respond to the warnings at any time.''

He adds: ''You are assured that our safeguard measures would keep you safe from a tsunami.''

For the first time in the six years since the tsunami, which claimed 5400 lives in Thailand, practice drills are being undertaken in the high season for tourism.

The predictions by fortune tellers of a second tsunami are reported to have led some tourists from Asian countries and within Thailand to cancel visits to Phuket and the Andaman coast.

However, the mostly non-superstitious Australians and Europeans are unlikely to have been influenced by crystal ball gazers.

European travellers are less evident on Phuket this high season because of the strong baht. This event was not predicted early enough for resort managements to seek other markets.

Governor Tri is scheduled to be at Saphan Hin public park in Phuket City on Friday for a tsunami drill. The sixth anniversary of the tsunami comes two days later, on December 26.

Memorial commemorations are scheduled for Patong, Kamala and Mai Khao.

Phuketwan was told earlier this year that authorities in Phang Nga, where the greatest number of victims died in the tsunami, were planning to only mark the tsunami anniversary officially every five years from now on.

If no formal events have been planned in the meantime, we suspect the relatives and friends of the dead will be grieving in their own way, as they always will, every year.
More News from Phuketwan


Two Patong Wrong-Way Streets to Go One-Way
Latest January 15 has been set as the date for a start to be made to traffic changes in Patong. On that day, two wrong way connecting streets will become one way. Parking is changing, too.
Two Patong Wrong-Way Streets to Go One-Way

Fake Phuket Watch Pair Doing Time Soon
Latest Tourists' complaints about copy watches that were not sold as copy watches but as genuine items have led to a police raid on Phuket and the arrest of two Vietnamese men.
Fake Phuket Watch Pair Doing Time Soon

Resorts Revolt Over Doubling of Room Tax
Latest Managers in Phang Nga resorts are up in arms over being suddenly informed that the controversial local council tax is to shoot up from one percent of room revenue to two percent.
Resorts Revolt Over Doubling of Room Tax

Four Bidders Want to Run Phuket's New Hospital
Latest Private but low cost, Phuket's new hospital aims to give local people an alternative and relieve the pressure for bed space at Phuket's largest public hospital.
Four Bidders Want to Run Phuket's New Hospital

Comments

Comments have been disabled for this article.

gravatar

I doubt if any native English speakers need reassuring about this nonsense. However, if your Thai partner does believe it, don't even think about trying to sway their mind - just not worth it. Believe me!

Posted by Mike Boyd on December 23, 2010 21:10

Editor Comment:

You are stereotyping, Mike. Not all Thai ''partners'' are like yours. It's not an assumption you should make. As a non-superstitious native English speaker, I would still like to know what system is in place to awaken guests in resorts along the coast between 1am and 6am, when tv, radio and even mobile phones/sms are switched off, and the staff at reception are sometimes also asleep.

gravatar

Yes Ed, we were very lucky last time in that it occurred early in the day. I was also lucky in that I was still asleep. A few hours later and it would have got me.

I shudder to think of the pandemonium if it had occurred at night.

Posted by Mike Boyd on December 23, 2010 21:27

gravatar

I have visited Phuket (Patong Beach) last month, and it was the most wonderful holiday of my life. I sincerely hope to come back. Hold strong and love you all very much.

Posted by Sylvia Borg, Malta on December 23, 2010 21:49

gravatar

''The early warning would be communicated to the public via all branches of mass media, including TV, radio or SMS.''
Yes good one me old son, would work well when I am asleep in bed hey?

Posted by Robin on December 23, 2010 22:57

gravatar

I don't think it's stereotyping when it portrays the majority. I don't know of many tourists that care if a Chicken has predicted a Tsunami, but I have personally seen that clear out a packed bar of northern Thai girls.

Posted by Anonymous on December 24, 2010 00:03

gravatar

WTF, remember the ocotopus that predicted the outcome for the world cup soccer.........sushi, dude.

Posted by Robin on December 24, 2010 12:53

gravatar

Naughty, naughty Ed. You added this bit about stereotyping AFTER I made my attempted humorous remark about superstitious Thais:

"You are stereotyping, Mike. Not all Thai ''partners'' are like yours. It's not an assumption you should make."

Can we stick to a format where your readers make a comment, then you can reply, then the reader can reply, and so on.

Changing what you wrote after I commented on it makes it look like I could not refute what you later added.

Not fair, Ed.

Posted by Mike Boyd on December 27, 2010 11:36

Editor Comment:

Sometimes I have to actually work as a journalist so my train of thought gets interrupted. Apologies.


Friday November 22, 2024
Horizon Karon Beach Resort & Spa

FOLLOW PHUKETWAN

Facebook Twitter