PHUKET: Phuket is still in the red for 20 million baht from its last big sports event and hopes to recoup the cash on the Asian Beach Games 2014, Phuket Governor Maitree Intrusud said yesterday.
Governor Maitree said that he was a fan of the neat uniforms worn by Phuket's volunteer Tourist Police and hoped that Phuket's taxi and tuk-tuk drivers could be wearing similar uniforms for the Games in November next year.
''Perhaps we can even organise some hospitality training for the drivers before then,'' the governor said.
About 7500 athletes are expected for the Beach Games with sports and dates for competition now set between November 14-21 next year at venues around Phuket.
Setting up and dismantling sports sites will extend the period of disruption to November 9 before the Games and for days after.
Phuket has yet to recover financially from the outlay for the Phuket Games 2012, otherwise known as the 28th National Youth Games, which were held in June last year.
Otop food fairs have been held on Kata-Karon and Patong shorefronts in an effort to recoup the 20 million baht spent on last year's games.
Governor Maitree said yesterday at a meeting at Phuket Provincial Hall in Phuket City that he did not want next year's Beach Games to negatively affect people, residents or the environment.
The traditional Loy Kratong Festival falls on November 7 next year, according to calendars, so talk yesterday that it could be the highlight of the Beach Games may be misguided.
Participants from the 23 countries involved will be urged to book accommodation as early as April next year. Volunteers are likely to be sought to help with crowd control about then.
Most events will be held around Patong and Karon on Phuket's popular holiday west coast.
Sports for the Games include paragliding, ocean swimming, beach water polo, beach kabaddi, beach sepaktakraw, beach volleyball, beach woodball, sailing, windsurfing, beach basketball, beach pentaque, beach soccer, beach wrestling, inline skating, skateboarding, BMX biking, jet-ski racing, muay thai, sports climbing, triathlon, water-skiing.
Governor Maitree said that he was a fan of the neat uniforms worn by Phuket's volunteer Tourist Police and hoped that Phuket's taxi and tuk-tuk drivers could be wearing similar uniforms for the Games in November next year.
''Perhaps we can even organise some hospitality training for the drivers before then,'' the governor said.
About 7500 athletes are expected for the Beach Games with sports and dates for competition now set between November 14-21 next year at venues around Phuket.
Setting up and dismantling sports sites will extend the period of disruption to November 9 before the Games and for days after.
Phuket has yet to recover financially from the outlay for the Phuket Games 2012, otherwise known as the 28th National Youth Games, which were held in June last year.
Otop food fairs have been held on Kata-Karon and Patong shorefronts in an effort to recoup the 20 million baht spent on last year's games.
Governor Maitree said yesterday at a meeting at Phuket Provincial Hall in Phuket City that he did not want next year's Beach Games to negatively affect people, residents or the environment.
The traditional Loy Kratong Festival falls on November 7 next year, according to calendars, so talk yesterday that it could be the highlight of the Beach Games may be misguided.
Participants from the 23 countries involved will be urged to book accommodation as early as April next year. Volunteers are likely to be sought to help with crowd control about then.
Most events will be held around Patong and Karon on Phuket's popular holiday west coast.
Sports for the Games include paragliding, ocean swimming, beach water polo, beach kabaddi, beach sepaktakraw, beach volleyball, beach woodball, sailing, windsurfing, beach basketball, beach pentaque, beach soccer, beach wrestling, inline skating, skateboarding, BMX biking, jet-ski racing, muay thai, sports climbing, triathlon, water-skiing.
Getting uniforms for Tuk tuk drivers! Does he think before speaking?
Posted by eezergood on June 19, 2013 09:46
Editor Comment:
The governor wisely used the word ''maybe.''