PHUKET has been plunged into full media damage control over a European television show that claims resorts in Kata-Karon allow water containing faecal material to flow into the sea where children and tourists swim.
Today's warning that the damaging ''Wir Retten Ihren Urlaub!'' (We Save Your Holiday!) will air next month follows the launch at the weekend of the Kata-Karon ''Heaven on Earth'' publicity campaign in which out-of-date and airbrushed photos are used to promote Phuket's attractions.
The differing perspectives throw harsh light on the way some Phuket authorities wish to project Phuket and the reality of lack of controls over waste water pollution and other tourism turn-offs.
The day after Kata-Karon authorities emphasied the need to make their area secure and safe for tourists, a Karon taxi driver was charged with the rape of a young Swedish tourist.
Two days after Kata-Karon authorities emphasised the area's natural beauty, Phuket Governor Tri Augkaradacha was told that a German television show is about to report that five resorts pollute the Kata-Karon sea with waste water containing dangerous bacteria.
Launched on Saturday under the ''Heaven on Earth'' banner, the Kata-Karon project may be a good idea to try to reverse some of Phuket's growing problems.
But it has probably come too late to prevent a huge cost to Phuket tourism if the ''We Save Your Holiday!'' show is telecast across large parts of Europe from next month, as planned.
What will screen next on television in Europe, or in Australia? More on the frightening jet-ski scams? More on the blockades and the extortionate fares charged by local taxis and tuk-tuks? More on the greedy thugs who are taking over Phuket's beaches?
We're looking into the future - something that it's about time for Phuket authorities to do. Tolerance of corruption and greed and the mistakes of the past are catching up with Phuket now.
Today Governor Tri heard from German honorary consul Dirk Naumann that next month's 'We Save Your Holiday!' show will probably allege that five resorts dump their waste into water that flows into the sea at two of Phuket's best-loved beaches, Kata and Karon.
Mr Naumann said WSYH was the most popular tv travel show in Germany - and it would later be screened across Scandinavia, France, the Netherlands, Belgium and Luxembourg.
The CD passed to the Governor today showed tests of waste water from one resort were ''full of faecal material,'' Mr Naumann said. He said he had been told that the program would name the resort in the CD item and four other resorts - but added that the new beachfront Centara Grand at Karon was not one of them.
''This is going to be damaging for Phuket,'' Mr Naumann said. ''I know from past experience this will be very, very unfair. I suggest you develop a plan.''
Mr Naumann said a similar report on a Turkish destination was followed up six months, 12 months and two years later, when the program reported that it was now safe for German tourists to return.
All Phuket residents know that waste water is just one of the problems facing Phuket. Yet Saturday's ''Heaven on Earth'' campaign in Kata-Karon - the same region that is about to be criticised on European television - highlighted the good, while admitting only to minor flaws.
As well as opting to build a large and controversial public Karon beach swimming pool - but only for those who are ''registered'' - the campaign organisers on Saturday gave away the first of a million postcards and t-shirts for the media.
The postcards of Kata and Karon beaches show no beach lounges and have either been airbrushed or taken many years ago. Projected scenes for Saturday's audience showed the Kata-Karon area when there were simple thatch villages and rice fields - not as it is in the 21st century.
The authorities did admit there was a lot of work to do. The positive campaign listed year-round beach cleaning; protection of the few remaining mangrove regions; zoning for billboards; turtle releases and coral reef recovery; more zebra crossings; walking streets; welcome arches; Karon-Kata promotion on YouTube; Better knowledge for beach vendors and workers; and lastly, send the tourists home safely.
The final item is worth mentioning because Karon is Phuket's most dangerous beach, especially between April and December. The extortionate fares demanded by taxi and tuk-tuk drivers and the scams by Phuket's jet-ski operators were not mentioned.
In response to news of the coming television show, Governor Tri said today that he would look into what could be done and set up a special committee, seeking regular two-monthly updates on the quality of waste water.
Any resort that breached standards would be closed down, he said.
Phuket and Corruption: The Thai PerspectiveToday's warning that the damaging ''Wir Retten Ihren Urlaub!'' (We Save Your Holiday!) will air next month follows the launch at the weekend of the Kata-Karon ''Heaven on Earth'' publicity campaign in which out-of-date and airbrushed photos are used to promote Phuket's attractions.
The differing perspectives throw harsh light on the way some Phuket authorities wish to project Phuket and the reality of lack of controls over waste water pollution and other tourism turn-offs.
The day after Kata-Karon authorities emphasied the need to make their area secure and safe for tourists, a Karon taxi driver was charged with the rape of a young Swedish tourist.
Two days after Kata-Karon authorities emphasised the area's natural beauty, Phuket Governor Tri Augkaradacha was told that a German television show is about to report that five resorts pollute the Kata-Karon sea with waste water containing dangerous bacteria.
Launched on Saturday under the ''Heaven on Earth'' banner, the Kata-Karon project may be a good idea to try to reverse some of Phuket's growing problems.
But it has probably come too late to prevent a huge cost to Phuket tourism if the ''We Save Your Holiday!'' show is telecast across large parts of Europe from next month, as planned.
What will screen next on television in Europe, or in Australia? More on the frightening jet-ski scams? More on the blockades and the extortionate fares charged by local taxis and tuk-tuks? More on the greedy thugs who are taking over Phuket's beaches?
We're looking into the future - something that it's about time for Phuket authorities to do. Tolerance of corruption and greed and the mistakes of the past are catching up with Phuket now.
Today Governor Tri heard from German honorary consul Dirk Naumann that next month's 'We Save Your Holiday!' show will probably allege that five resorts dump their waste into water that flows into the sea at two of Phuket's best-loved beaches, Kata and Karon.
Mr Naumann said WSYH was the most popular tv travel show in Germany - and it would later be screened across Scandinavia, France, the Netherlands, Belgium and Luxembourg.
The CD passed to the Governor today showed tests of waste water from one resort were ''full of faecal material,'' Mr Naumann said. He said he had been told that the program would name the resort in the CD item and four other resorts - but added that the new beachfront Centara Grand at Karon was not one of them.
''This is going to be damaging for Phuket,'' Mr Naumann said. ''I know from past experience this will be very, very unfair. I suggest you develop a plan.''
Mr Naumann said a similar report on a Turkish destination was followed up six months, 12 months and two years later, when the program reported that it was now safe for German tourists to return.
All Phuket residents know that waste water is just one of the problems facing Phuket. Yet Saturday's ''Heaven on Earth'' campaign in Kata-Karon - the same region that is about to be criticised on European television - highlighted the good, while admitting only to minor flaws.
As well as opting to build a large and controversial public Karon beach swimming pool - but only for those who are ''registered'' - the campaign organisers on Saturday gave away the first of a million postcards and t-shirts for the media.
The postcards of Kata and Karon beaches show no beach lounges and have either been airbrushed or taken many years ago. Projected scenes for Saturday's audience showed the Kata-Karon area when there were simple thatch villages and rice fields - not as it is in the 21st century.
The authorities did admit there was a lot of work to do. The positive campaign listed year-round beach cleaning; protection of the few remaining mangrove regions; zoning for billboards; turtle releases and coral reef recovery; more zebra crossings; walking streets; welcome arches; Karon-Kata promotion on YouTube; Better knowledge for beach vendors and workers; and lastly, send the tourists home safely.
The final item is worth mentioning because Karon is Phuket's most dangerous beach, especially between April and December. The extortionate fares demanded by taxi and tuk-tuk drivers and the scams by Phuket's jet-ski operators were not mentioned.
In response to news of the coming television show, Governor Tri said today that he would look into what could be done and set up a special committee, seeking regular two-monthly updates on the quality of waste water.
Any resort that breached standards would be closed down, he said.
The Big Picture Here's a thorough overview of corruption in Thailand that also provides plenty of insights about what happens on Phuket. It's part of Phuketwan's Challenge for Change.
Phuket and Corruption: The Thai Perspective
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Ahh yes. The old 'set up a committee' solution. That way he will be rotated out of the region by the time anyone remembers it again.
Of course hotels couldn't be closed or punished, until they set their house in order, not given the clout of the owners.
Posted by LivinLOS on April 11, 2011 12:08