PHUKET: The Paris Hilton two-day New Year party will go ahead on Phuket's Surin beach, local mayor Ma-Ann Samran said today.
He said the person who has signed off as taking responsibility for the December 30-January 1 event is the local council's top administrator, the Permanent Secretary of Cherng Talay.
The World Class Electronic Music Festival aims to attract 50,000 fans to a beach where families from all over the world traditionally spend a relaxing Christmas-New Year at nearby Surin resorts.
When asked today whether approval for the party by a local official meant that Phuket's public beaches could be used by anyone to hold private events, Mayor Ma-Ann said: ''Yes. I don't care about high-end customers. My only interest is the people selling on the beaches.''
Although approval for the huge event has been delegated to the local council, Phuket Governor Governor Maitree Inthusud remains responsible for the safety and security of all residents and visitors on Phuket.
He reassures English-language readers in a monthly newspaper column today, writing: ''With the tourism industry growing at 10 percent per year, the safety of tourists and residents must be our top priority.''
Approval of the party by a local official appears to mean that any of the 18 councils on Phuket with a beach in its jurisdiction can approve any private event on a public beach, no matter how massive.
Mayor Ma-Ann, elected last year to the position for the first time, predicts that the character of Phuket's beaches may have to change to suit the needs of local beach vendors.
He noted life's capacity to bring change. Referring to Thailand's recent Prime Ministers, he said: ''If we pick up Yingluck [Shinawatra] instead of Apisit [Vejjajiva], next time we will pick up Apisit and lose Yingluck. It's swings and roundabouts.''
General managers of some of Phuket's best-known resorts and villa developments around Surin objected to the party, which was only announced in late October. Surin resorts are usually fully booked with regular customers between Christmas and New Year.
News of the event has triggered cancellations and started Phuket hoteliers wondering whether local officials and the New Year party organisers understand Phuket tourism, which does not rely on ''swings and roundabouts'' but certainty and regular customers.
In his column today, Governor Maitree writes: ''What has impressed me during my first seven weeks as governor is the strong bonds between the private sector, non-governmental organisations and local government.
''So many good projects that benefit society have been undertaken by this cooperation.''
He said the person who has signed off as taking responsibility for the December 30-January 1 event is the local council's top administrator, the Permanent Secretary of Cherng Talay.
The World Class Electronic Music Festival aims to attract 50,000 fans to a beach where families from all over the world traditionally spend a relaxing Christmas-New Year at nearby Surin resorts.
When asked today whether approval for the party by a local official meant that Phuket's public beaches could be used by anyone to hold private events, Mayor Ma-Ann said: ''Yes. I don't care about high-end customers. My only interest is the people selling on the beaches.''
Although approval for the huge event has been delegated to the local council, Phuket Governor Governor Maitree Inthusud remains responsible for the safety and security of all residents and visitors on Phuket.
He reassures English-language readers in a monthly newspaper column today, writing: ''With the tourism industry growing at 10 percent per year, the safety of tourists and residents must be our top priority.''
Approval of the party by a local official appears to mean that any of the 18 councils on Phuket with a beach in its jurisdiction can approve any private event on a public beach, no matter how massive.
Mayor Ma-Ann, elected last year to the position for the first time, predicts that the character of Phuket's beaches may have to change to suit the needs of local beach vendors.
He noted life's capacity to bring change. Referring to Thailand's recent Prime Ministers, he said: ''If we pick up Yingluck [Shinawatra] instead of Apisit [Vejjajiva], next time we will pick up Apisit and lose Yingluck. It's swings and roundabouts.''
General managers of some of Phuket's best-known resorts and villa developments around Surin objected to the party, which was only announced in late October. Surin resorts are usually fully booked with regular customers between Christmas and New Year.
News of the event has triggered cancellations and started Phuket hoteliers wondering whether local officials and the New Year party organisers understand Phuket tourism, which does not rely on ''swings and roundabouts'' but certainty and regular customers.
In his column today, Governor Maitree writes: ''What has impressed me during my first seven weeks as governor is the strong bonds between the private sector, non-governmental organisations and local government.
''So many good projects that benefit society have been undertaken by this cooperation.''
Incredible. Words fail me.
Posted by mike on December 1, 2012 13:52