TOWERS are a temptation for Phuket Governor Wichai Praisa-Ngob. He began the process of creating a tourism tower in Phang Nga, and now he sees some sense in erecting one as a Phuket landmark.

The Phuket tower could go as high as 200 metres and dominate one of the island's hills, with commanding views.

Governor Wichai has mentioned the possibility of a tower at least twice in conversations with local media about what Phuket needs.

He is also keen to sort out the traffic, nominating the Heroines Monument roundabout, the Thainaan Intersection at Central Festival and the Tesco Lotus crossing in Sam Kong as candidates for flyovers or underpasses.

Perhaps he hasn't yet had a chance to add Chalong Circle to his list, but that's also clearly in need of a long-term solution.

He has also recognised the need for a second route running south from the airport to Patong and development of the existing backroads route from Chalong to Patong.

For the time being, nobody seems to be mentioning the Patong Hill Tunnel or the fast-rail from the airport to Phuket City.

While it's true that Phuket's roads need dramatic improvement, the costs would need to be met by a Bangkok Government that appears to have other priorities.

And there are those who fear that underpasses and flyovers simply remind visitors that their favorite tropical island is rapidly becoming more like the cities they are trying to escape from, if only temporarily.

As for a tower, well, it's a matter of opinion.

Phuket already has the highly visible and iconic Big Buddha, which provides excellent views from the top of Nakkerd Hill across east and west coasts.

There's also the Khao Khad Lookout, between Cape Panwa and Chalong, less well known but also with spectacular vistas.

In Phuket City, Rang Hill has a viewpoint that attracts tourists who want to look out over the city and the hillsides while they dine.

There are also public viewpoints at Cape Promthep, the Kata Viewpoint, and one shortly to be under construction overlooking Laem Singh, plus the ''Sunset Strip'' of restaurants on the road between Nai Harn and Kata and a couple of other private headland projects, including the outstanding Baba restaurant at Sri panwa on Cape Panwa.

The south of the island seems to have plenty of hilltop or headland viewpoints.

In the right economic climate, Laguna Phuket is likely to resurrect its plan to for a tethered balloon and gondola that would rise to 300 metres and provide unrivalled views over the north of the island.

Environmentalists griped years ago about having the Big Buddha on a precious hill but it does have the virtue of offering a year-round attraction and unbeatable views.

And as the largest sitting buddha in Thailand, it is already attracting hundreds of tourists every day.

Run a cable car up there from Patong and . . . well, we wouldn't want to be accused of commercialism, but a less lovable and smaller buddha in Hong Kong attracts a million visitors a year, thanks to the cable car connection.

When Phuketwan spoke to Governor Wichai early last year, he was Governor of Phang Nga, with his short stint in Sing Buri yet to come.

The plan for the Phang Nga tower included four lifts, with a souvenir shop and a one village one product store at the base.

''Phuket has the airport and most resorts,'' he told Phuketwan back then. ''But tourists come to see the beauty of Phang Nga.

''We want them to come and stay longer here, too. That way, Phang Nga gets some of the revenue, rather than just day-trippers.''

With his allegiance now clearly switched to Phuket, we think the Governor should consider the Big Buddha as the official landmark for the island, along with the Heroines, the beaches and the great views.

Let Phang Nga keep the tower idea, if the people there want it. As the governor told us last year: ''Phang Nga really deserves a larger share of the income from tourism.

''At the moment, Phuket gets more than its share. The tower is one way of making sure both provinces get a fair deal.''



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