Phuket News Analysis
PHUKET: Marine authorities on Phuket should not waste time seeking approval for a pie-in-the-sea Airport-to-Patong ferry when the priority is to fix Phuket's deep sea port.
The world's leading cruise ship lines are swinging their vessels away from Europe towards Asia. Phuket's port facilities are among the poorest in the entire continent.
Carnival Corporation is pulling out of Europe in 2014 and has officially launched its regional office in Singapore. Carnival brands Costa Cruises and Princess Cruises continue to grow their operations in Asia.
Costa Atlantica, the biggest ship in the Costa fleet, is being deployed to Asia, joining Costa Victoria and more than doubling Costa's capacity in the region.
Costa Atlantica will sail from Singapore to Malacca and Penang for three-night cruises and four-night trips to Phuket and Langkawi.
Because of dithering, Phuket's deep sea port, on the east coast, remains possibly the shabbiest facility in South-East Asia.
For reasons that are difficult to understand, marine officials appear to be devoting an inordinate amount of time to the Airport-Patong ferry concept.
The ferry will not attract new passengers to Phuket, only cater to passengers once they have reached Phuket.
An improved Phuket deep sea port would have instant appeal and attract thousands more top-quality passengers to Phuket, which is just what the island needs.
What the marine authorities should be concentrating on is improving the temporary facilities at Phuket deep sea port and providing a shuttle bus service for passengers to Phuket City and Patong.
The fact that cruise passengers continue to be held to ransom by local taxi and tuk-tuk drivers is a source of shame for Phuket's authorities.
The US aircraft carrier Nimitz will be anchoring off Phuket later this month, and setting the standard for land transport on Phuket.
The 5500 sailors and aircrew on board will be offered the choice of shuttle buses or taxis and tuk-tuks. This is just the way it should be for all the luxury cruise passengers that want to make Phuket a destination.
That choice should also apply to passengers arriving at Phuket airport, and Airports of Thailand must be made to take its management responsibilities seriously.
Phuket's marine authorities - along with many other Phuket officials - also need to get their priorities sorted.
Speedy improvement to Phuket's deep sea port is what Phuket must fast-track because it will deliver thousands of extra quality tourists.
The Airport-Patong ferry is not going to attract a single extra tourist. It will be difficult to operate on days when Phuket's weather turns bad.
Cancelled trips and repaying customers will be a nightmare for operators, and the initial cost seems ridiculously high for a low-return venture that only adds travelling time and extra trouble for arriving tourists.
The message to Phuket's marine authorities is plain: extend the deep sea port, give Phuket a cruise line facility it can be proud of, then worry about the pie-in-the-sea idea.
Making Phuket a jet-ski scam-free zone is another matter that should be close to the top of the list of marine authority priorities - not the Airport-Patong ferry.
Just returned from Palma de Majorca & St Maarten where cruise ships arrive daily and are a huge bonus to the local economy. Phuket is a nicer location to visit than either of those places ... with the correct facilities!
Posted by Anonymous on May 20, 2013 12:47