PHUKET: The two-day party planned for New Year for 50,000 people at Surin beach is going to be held somewhere else on Phuket, the Phuket Governor's office confirmed today.
The party may shift to Patong beach but it's believed the Mayor of Patong, Pian Keesin, has told organisers he believes it should be a free event.
The general managers of the five-star resorts around Surin beach, who resisted the party being held at Surin after it was announced by celebrity Paris Hilton in Bangkok in late October, will be relieved.
''Lots of people have cancelled their holidays already,'' one general manager said today. ''We hope they will come back now.''
Spokespeople for the organisers could not be contacted this evening.
It's understood officials from at least two embassies had begun contacting the party organisers, asking them what arrangements had been made for security and for treatment of people in an emergency situation.
Local officials at times appeared to offer support for the event but as the first of its kind, the Electronic Dance Music Festival may have triggered an interesting reaction from Surin locals.
The people of Patong are more used to New Year parties and the noise and behavior associated with them.
However, at least one Patong resort general manager spoke out when eight Surin resort and villa estate managers wrote an open letter of protest to Phuket Governor Maitree Inthusud.
The Surin managers said the festival was a good idea but not suitable for Surin at New Year, and perhaps more suitable for Patong.
The Patong general manager suggested Patong was not necessarily the right place for the party either.
Among those who are bound to be pleased with a switch in venues are Australian Kellie Power and Briton James Saunders, who a year ago planned their beach wedding on Phuket and organised for 150 relatives to come to see them married near Surin on December 29.
The New Year party organisers chose to announce the venture in late October. Bookings for Phuket's peak Christmas-New Year season at Surin beach are usually made 12 months in advance.
Proposed plans to bring party guests to Phuket on special charter flights fell through when it was discovered Phuket International Airport has no more slots for flights available at that time of year.
The New Year party organisers said they had lined up some of the world's top electronic music performers for the show. One star attraction, Basement Jaxx, had removed the Phuket party from their online calendar tonight.
The Bangkok Post carried a long article in today's edition promoting the party, but not mentioning the controversy.
The party may shift to Patong beach but it's believed the Mayor of Patong, Pian Keesin, has told organisers he believes it should be a free event.
The general managers of the five-star resorts around Surin beach, who resisted the party being held at Surin after it was announced by celebrity Paris Hilton in Bangkok in late October, will be relieved.
''Lots of people have cancelled their holidays already,'' one general manager said today. ''We hope they will come back now.''
Spokespeople for the organisers could not be contacted this evening.
It's understood officials from at least two embassies had begun contacting the party organisers, asking them what arrangements had been made for security and for treatment of people in an emergency situation.
Local officials at times appeared to offer support for the event but as the first of its kind, the Electronic Dance Music Festival may have triggered an interesting reaction from Surin locals.
The people of Patong are more used to New Year parties and the noise and behavior associated with them.
However, at least one Patong resort general manager spoke out when eight Surin resort and villa estate managers wrote an open letter of protest to Phuket Governor Maitree Inthusud.
The Surin managers said the festival was a good idea but not suitable for Surin at New Year, and perhaps more suitable for Patong.
The Patong general manager suggested Patong was not necessarily the right place for the party either.
Among those who are bound to be pleased with a switch in venues are Australian Kellie Power and Briton James Saunders, who a year ago planned their beach wedding on Phuket and organised for 150 relatives to come to see them married near Surin on December 29.
The New Year party organisers chose to announce the venture in late October. Bookings for Phuket's peak Christmas-New Year season at Surin beach are usually made 12 months in advance.
Proposed plans to bring party guests to Phuket on special charter flights fell through when it was discovered Phuket International Airport has no more slots for flights available at that time of year.
The New Year party organisers said they had lined up some of the world's top electronic music performers for the show. One star attraction, Basement Jaxx, had removed the Phuket party from their online calendar tonight.
The Bangkok Post carried a long article in today's edition promoting the party, but not mentioning the controversy.
Great news!
Posted by Simon on December 18, 2012 18:55