PHUKET: The organisers of Phuket's private-for-profit two-day New Year party dug a hole in the beach to bury the garbage, Phuket Governor Maitree Inthusud was told today by leading Phuket tourism officials.
Women danced topless, one partygoer almost drowned and alcohol was sold on Patong beach at excessive prices in defiance of the agreement with authorities, they said.
''This kind of event is not in the short-term or long-term interests of Phuket's future for tourism,'' a letter from the group informed Governor Maitree.
Delivering the letter today at Phuket Provincial Hall in Phuket City were Ponganan Suwannakarn, President of the Phuket Tourist Association, PTA Vice president Sarayuth Mallam, and President of the Thai Hotels Association (Southern Chapter), Suchart Hirankanokkul.
Khun Ponganan said before going into the meeting: ''We wanted the governor to fully understand this event and the consequences for Phuket if there are other events like it.
''The New Year event was like a mobile pub and attracted the wrong kind of people, lowering the impression of Phuket as an environmentally-sensitive destination.
''We don't want Phuket to be taken down-market. We want to attract quality tourists who come for the region's natural beauty.''
With the letter were scores of photographs, showing breaches of the 15-point code that the organisers, Sydictive Element, agreed to follow.
The photographs were in stark contrast to the publicity shots being circulated on behalf of the event's organisers.
The only reason the party eventually won the approval of Phuket authorities at the last minute was because the authorities were told an important VIP planned to attend.
There was no VIP and only a small fraction of the 50,000 audience the organisers hoped to attract. Most of the big-name international stars touted as appearing failed to show up.
Scaffolding and other equipment left after the event still littered Patong beach on January 2, the letter told the governor.
The man who almost drowned was dragged from the surf not by a lifeguard but by a friend, according to the officials.
At least one woman stripped to her bikini bottom to dance, in contravention with the rules governing the event.
Alcohol was not supposed to be sold but was openly being offered to partygoers at excessive prices.
Khun Sarayuth said: ''This event should not have been held anywhere on Phuket.''
Khun Ponganan added that the event had turned Phuket ''into a slum'' overnight. ''There is no benefit to Phuket from this event or others like it.''
Patong police had to field many complaints from hotel guests about the noise, he said.
The ''electronic dance music festival'' was announced by celebrity Paris Hilton in Bangkok on October 22 and transferred at the last minute from Surin beach to Patong beach after objections.
Women danced topless, one partygoer almost drowned and alcohol was sold on Patong beach at excessive prices in defiance of the agreement with authorities, they said.
''This kind of event is not in the short-term or long-term interests of Phuket's future for tourism,'' a letter from the group informed Governor Maitree.
Delivering the letter today at Phuket Provincial Hall in Phuket City were Ponganan Suwannakarn, President of the Phuket Tourist Association, PTA Vice president Sarayuth Mallam, and President of the Thai Hotels Association (Southern Chapter), Suchart Hirankanokkul.
Khun Ponganan said before going into the meeting: ''We wanted the governor to fully understand this event and the consequences for Phuket if there are other events like it.
''The New Year event was like a mobile pub and attracted the wrong kind of people, lowering the impression of Phuket as an environmentally-sensitive destination.
''We don't want Phuket to be taken down-market. We want to attract quality tourists who come for the region's natural beauty.''
With the letter were scores of photographs, showing breaches of the 15-point code that the organisers, Sydictive Element, agreed to follow.
The photographs were in stark contrast to the publicity shots being circulated on behalf of the event's organisers.
The only reason the party eventually won the approval of Phuket authorities at the last minute was because the authorities were told an important VIP planned to attend.
There was no VIP and only a small fraction of the 50,000 audience the organisers hoped to attract. Most of the big-name international stars touted as appearing failed to show up.
Scaffolding and other equipment left after the event still littered Patong beach on January 2, the letter told the governor.
The man who almost drowned was dragged from the surf not by a lifeguard but by a friend, according to the officials.
At least one woman stripped to her bikini bottom to dance, in contravention with the rules governing the event.
Alcohol was not supposed to be sold but was openly being offered to partygoers at excessive prices.
Khun Sarayuth said: ''This event should not have been held anywhere on Phuket.''
Khun Ponganan added that the event had turned Phuket ''into a slum'' overnight. ''There is no benefit to Phuket from this event or others like it.''
Patong police had to field many complaints from hotel guests about the noise, he said.
The ''electronic dance music festival'' was announced by celebrity Paris Hilton in Bangkok on October 22 and transferred at the last minute from Surin beach to Patong beach after objections.
Khun Ponganan added that the event had turned Phuket ''into a slum'' overnight.
Phuket is now a slum due to topless girls? Topless allowed girls in Phuket?
NEVER AGAIN!!!! (Except at Go Go Bars)
Posted by j on January 4, 2013 18:17