PHUKET: A big new souvenir sales centre in southern Phuket should be open by November to service bus tour groups from China, Korea, Russia and other countries.
The palatial Thai-style souvenir centre, which is Thai-owned and aimed at tourists on bus tours, has parking for 63 buses.
It's an indication of the explosion in development as Phuket enters the mass-tourism market, despite the desires of many in the industry to target high-end tourism.
''We expect to handle 2000 tourists a day,'' said a spokesperson for the souvenir centre's owners, Royal Paragon Phuket.
He did not reveal the cost of the project but said the area of the elegantly styled building was 9924 square metres.
Construction is well underway on a road off Chaofa Road West, leading to the Luang Pu Supa temple in Chalong.
Several other outlets with tour groups in mind have already sprung up along the road.
Phuket's Big Buddha, the Chalong temple and the Phunaka Public Golf Course are all close to the newly created souvenir centre.
There will be no restaurant attached, but a snack shop will be an attraction.
Construction began in February 2011 in yet another sign of the rapid growth of Phuket's mass tourism market.
By contrast, more building continues at the nearby temple grounds, where the dome that will be the final resting place of Phuket's much-admired monk, Luang Pu Supa, is under construction.
The 116th birthday of the revered teacher and builder was marked earlier this week.
A museum celebrating his life's work of erecting temples around Thailand, including three temples on Phuket, is to be opened soon.
Work also continues on a white temple sala that contains some of the finest decorations yet seen on Phuket, crafted by Thailand's best wood carvers, artisans and painters.
The palatial Thai-style souvenir centre, which is Thai-owned and aimed at tourists on bus tours, has parking for 63 buses.
It's an indication of the explosion in development as Phuket enters the mass-tourism market, despite the desires of many in the industry to target high-end tourism.
''We expect to handle 2000 tourists a day,'' said a spokesperson for the souvenir centre's owners, Royal Paragon Phuket.
He did not reveal the cost of the project but said the area of the elegantly styled building was 9924 square metres.
Construction is well underway on a road off Chaofa Road West, leading to the Luang Pu Supa temple in Chalong.
Several other outlets with tour groups in mind have already sprung up along the road.
Phuket's Big Buddha, the Chalong temple and the Phunaka Public Golf Course are all close to the newly created souvenir centre.
There will be no restaurant attached, but a snack shop will be an attraction.
Construction began in February 2011 in yet another sign of the rapid growth of Phuket's mass tourism market.
By contrast, more building continues at the nearby temple grounds, where the dome that will be the final resting place of Phuket's much-admired monk, Luang Pu Supa, is under construction.
The 116th birthday of the revered teacher and builder was marked earlier this week.
A museum celebrating his life's work of erecting temples around Thailand, including three temples on Phuket, is to be opened soon.
Work also continues on a white temple sala that contains some of the finest decorations yet seen on Phuket, crafted by Thailand's best wood carvers, artisans and painters.
Chaofa Road West is gridlocked most of the day now and this is low season.What it's going to be like when this opens I dread to think. Do the planners ever take this into consideration? Oh sorry I forgot I was in Phuket. And not to mention when the Central underpass is being built.
Posted by rich on September 19, 2012 12:38