ONE OF Phuket's best bridge-builders is leaving the island today. We are not talking here about the Sarasin Bridge, but about bridges between people.

The divide between Thais and tourists stretches or shrinks, and at the worst of times there's a lack of understanding that is too big to leap.

Promchote ''Chote'' Traivate, who has been the regional Tourism and Sport representative for four years, has put in train scores of projects that will ultimately benefit Phuket enormously.

Much of his energy has gone into local health. Working seven days a week from his base at Surakul Stadium in Phuket City, he has encouraged community aerobics all over the island, and running events as well.

Scores of athletes from surrounding provinces have stayed at Surakul to improve their skills in just about every kind of sport.

When it comes to tourism, Khun Chote has spread knowledge, improved standards, and create more stakeholders.

In the early days he would go into villages, blow on a reed pipe to attract attention, then tell the residents about the importance of keeping their communities free of litter and looking good.

He taught Muslim women how to do massage, because some Middle East tourists especially prefer Muslim masseuses. He helped create a network of homestays across Phuket and on outlying islands.

He encouraged development of local festivals in rural areas, the kinds of events that all tourists with an interest in local culture are crying out to see.

He helped grow local industries, too, finding new markets for villages specialising in broom-making or honey bees.

He organised training as scuba divers for sea gypsies, and liaised with the Thai airforce to find obsolete aircraft when the idea of an artificial reef was suggested.

Largely through his influence, many villages throughout Phuket and Phnag Nga are now aware of the pressures and the pleasures that a well-planned tourist industry can deliver to local communities.

Thanks to Khun Chote, we were able to report on Panyee's first boat festival and Yao Noi island's first buffalo and rice festival. Both are now not-to-be-missed annual events.

He introduced us to enchanted out-of-the-way places, too. We remember especially one island off Phang Nga where the local beach is lined with large seashells, sea eagles nest on a nearby cliff face, and the villagers lead a sublime life, without electricity.

When Dr Preecha Ruagjan arrived on Phuket as governor, he gained his first impression of the island while riding pillion on Khun Chote's motorcycle.

So Khun Chote, after three years changing Phuket and Phang Nga for the better, moves on today. Look for big things soon up north in Chang Rai.

Khun Chote was quite rightly Phuketwan's first Phuket Person of the Year, and we hope there are many more like him.