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Quick, Save Phuket's Famous Beaches
By Alan Morison and Chutima Sidasathian Monday, April 14, 2014
PHUKET: The remarkable boom in the number of tourists visiting Phuket appears to be slowing after two years of stellar growth.
The March total of arrivals and departures at Phuket International Airport is 1,051,686, newly-released statistics reveal.
This is a mere 1.55 percent up on the same month last year, the smallest increase in quite some time. It follows an increase of just 4.49 percent in February.
The tally of passengers through Phuket airport for the first three months is 3,333,703, up just 5.95 percent on 2013.
Pundits will probably attribute some of the falling off to the residual impact of Thailand's unsettled politics. That may be so.
It may also be that more people are wondering about Phuket's growing reputation for failing to deal with the environmental issues that have left its prime west coast beaches in steady decline.
The truth is that the local councils do not know how to care for beaches properly, nor do they realise that enforcement and a better approach are needed immediately.
Phuketwan forecast early last year that the next 12 months would be critical to saving Phuket's beaches and the island's reputation.
We have seen no indication that the local authorities have wised up.
Signs of corruption and greed and a keenness to compromise rather than enforce the law remain all too obvious.
While the number of arrivals may be still rising, we would be willing to bet - if only it wasn't an illegal practice - that revenue is down.
The tourists are coming in such large numbers because the room rates are so low. Phuket's resorts are engaged in a battle to the bottom.
Only with a strictly enforced strategy to save Phuket's beaches - and the coral reefs, for that matter - will Phuket restore its reputation and become a quality destination again.
There is no point any more in gentle persuasion. That fails with the tuk-tuk and taxi drivers, and it fails with the resorts that quite deliberately pollute Phuket's canals and beaches.
If Phuket sincerely wants to return to the days when so-called quality tourists chose it as a favored destination, there is quite a lot of work to do, and it must be done quickly.
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Comments
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Well said, I feel that Phuket has now gone beyond the tipping point, when you arrive at the airport it says welcome to Paradise, the you arrive at your accommodation walk through the rubbish to the beach thick black stinky water pouring into the sea. Em Paradise I don't think so. The building of the water treatment plant in Bangtao seems to have come to a halt and it seems the Govenor did not know! Phuket needs to wake up and get people who care about the environment rather than the Bht in their pockets. Employ people to clean beaches put rubbish bins out, fine people who discharge waste into the sea. Many people care so please do not destroy the once Paradise island for ever.
Posted by
Granitebeetle
on
April 14, 2014 11:56
Come on you western screenwriters!!! Time for a spoof movie on Thailand?
Thoystory 555..POOkette ....Come swim in our cesspools... Sun, Sand and Sewage..meet our friendly Police, Jet ski and Tuk Tuk staff..we aim to do everything that pleases us.
Posted by
David
on
April 14, 2014 12:15
I have been here now over 20 years, in combination with Koh Samui, and I have seen this coming for over a decade. The greed, the corruption, the lack of educating the youngsters, the rubbish piles, the anarchy towards the law, and so on. Such a shame. It seems that there is a new attitude on Phuket picking up very fast, and that is a common acceptance, that a pile of bin bags are just being tossed next to the main road on a daily base. Like for example in kalim, opposite the white box restaurant, or in Kamala, just passed swissotel on the way to patong. What is the matter with these people, you might ask?
Posted by
Charles
on
April 14, 2014 12:21
Nearly every beach on Phuket's south and west coast (Kata Noi, Kata, Karon, Patong, Kamala, Surin, Bangtao, Layan, and Mai Khao) has sewage openly flowing into the sea.
High tides above 2 metres flood these 'sewage canals', and as the tide drops down, massive amounts of untreated sewage flow directly into the sea.
Illnesses that arise from
contact with sewage are caused by pathogens.
The most common pathogens in sewage are bacteria, parasites, and viruses.
They cause a wide variety of violent illnesses including diarrhea and infections.
In some cases, however, sewage contaminated seawater can cause serious long-term illnesses or even death.
Certain groups such as children, and the elderly are particularly vulnerable to these long-term effects.
Rather than solve the problem as many developing countries have done, Phuket's corrupt officials take payoffs to ignore this ongoing problem.
This is not a victimless crime. These corrupt officials are endangering the health of thousands of beach-goers every day.
When will this shameless profiteering stop?
Posted by
John
on
April 14, 2014 12:23
& they have just invented another form of pollution. My family are staying in Kata. They decided to close the neighbouring street for 3 days (11-13) & had 6 pick-ups with monstrous speakers linked blasting toneless music from midday till after midnight. The hotel rooms were shaking & all with young families checked out to move elsewhere. Simply as outrageous as inexplicable.
Posted by
Logic
on
April 14, 2014 12:25
To learn how to take care of beaches properly, just get on a plane and fly to e.g.: Perth, Sydney, Gold Coast spend a few weeks with the councils and return and apply. Quite simple really....
Posted by
DG
on
April 14, 2014 13:32
All that mess came to our beautiful island with whom? - With the TOURISTS! We Thai-people are tired of all these shouting, screaming, dirty & crazy people. Stay ah home and there won't be any sewage problems.
Posted by
Somchai
on
April 14, 2014 15:43
@Somchai - if all these people stay at home please do tell what Phuket will do? No tourists? really is that what you want for Phuket? The reason so many tourists come is for the beaches etc. The reason it has gotten like this is no regulation of anything. Build what you like, where you like - do what you want - We dont care - here is some money now go away - Phuket is at breaking point and all leaders on this island want to do is splash water on there face and say everything is fine. You blame tourists - blame yourself. You should be ashamed for writing such rubbish.
Posted by
Ciaran
on
April 14, 2014 16:22
With the AEC 'opening up' I'd love to see local authorities/ government/ police all replaced with international personnel for a 5-year period as a way to rid Phuket of corruption and re-start Phuket.
Posted by
Duncan
on
April 14, 2014 16:28
@somchai: true, a lot of garbage comes from tourists, but along with that garbage, there comes a lot, and I mean a lot of money for Phuket. And with all these billions, they should already have the garbage pile under control. But no, rather put it in their pocket, and turn a blind eye. Plus: the tourists don't have to stay home, they can go elsewhere, but because the officials are doing nothing about the ever growing problems, you will be stuck here in this stinking pile of waste.. That is if you truly are from here...
Posted by
Charles
on
April 14, 2014 16:30
- Somchai
Tourists come here for a large part because of aggressive marketing by TAT.
You as a Thai, who claims to speak for all Thais, should then pick up the phone and demand TAT start telling all these shouting, screaming, dirty & crazy tourists not to come here.
Your approach could not be more typical. Always blame the foreigner. You invited tourists here, took their money but in your greed did not invest in or care about the infrastructure or environment.
Your corrupt officials have now caused the s**t to hit the fan, literally.
Yet you, as a self-proclaimed mouthpiece for all Thais, fail to accept any wrongdoing whatsoever.
I bet if you could, you would set up a large collection box at the airport reading: " Leave all your valuables here and get out !"
Personally I would love to see Phuket deserted. Not a single tourist on the island, leaving scores of locals wondering what happened and why.
I see that as the only way to force locals to once again start caring about the tourists and the island itself.
Alternatively you could of course go back to growing rubber trees. With all the pollution in the ocean I would not recommend reverting to being a fisherman anymore.
To help you achieve your goal I suggest you gather a group of like-minded locals, go to the airport and start protesting against any arriving foreigners. Block a few hotels preventing tourists to arrive or leave.
I'm sure you can easily find thousands to join you and I'd love to watch the fallout of your action.
Posted by
ThaiMike
on
April 14, 2014 16:31
The spiraling price rises for the entertainment district should be taken in to account together with influx of Russian business....Lot of people going elswhere
Posted by
Anonymous
on
April 14, 2014 17:02
@somchai ...the majority of Thais on Phuket are also vistors to the island... they were not born on Phuket and perhaps that may also be the case with you ....the tourists came and injected billions of baht into the Phuket economy over decades , have a look around does it look like much of it was spent on infrastructure ? greed , greed and more greed ...be careful what u pray for or you might get it !!
Posted by
chris
on
April 14, 2014 17:12
Please excuse Khun Somchai. He suffers from a sight disorder that is very common here. It is called not being able to see the wood for the trees and as yet the medical profession have found no cure.
Posted by
Somsak Public Relations
on
April 14, 2014 17:43
forwarding photos like this to euro, chinese, russian, and aussie travel companies will do the job. the photos are pretty self explanatory, not much writing needed except the comments and actions made by the governor and other officials which is quite comical in a way when addressing educated people.
Posted by
jimmy
on
April 14, 2014 17:56
Sailor, did you conclude that because Somchai didn't say keep away but still send your money?
Posted by
Manowar
on
April 14, 2014 18:30
@manowar ...very funny too...no, but would not be surprised if you know Somchai very very well ;-)
Posted by
Sailor
on
April 14, 2014 20:01
Phuket has one big plus. And that is its medical facilities. And it is quite safe to go out for a drink.
I have one horror story for you from a friends daughter on Bali, who was methanol poisoned at a local bar there, with one long drink. She had all the symptoms, visual problems, muscle pain etcpp, and she knew of two other guys having the same problems being in the same bar with her. She went to the local clinic and got blood screened. The guy came back and said, her blood was without alcohol, what was an impossible result. They put her on some infusion, but not ethanol, just the usual to no effect. My friend live-skype-medicated her daughter by letting a friend of the daughter go to a store and buy imported and originally labeled whiskey. With original packaging. Then she had to drink for three days to keep the level up. Back in Australia, she got a checkup in a real clinic. The methanol poisoning was confirmed, but thanks to the treatment and the only one long drink, she did not die in Bali, only her visual capabilities is lightly problematic.
They complained to the police through their hostel. But the bar is still open, case was not strong enough.
If you ever have a medical problem on Phuket - and you are insured - I know, as I and my kids needed it, you can be sure to get world class medical attention. So maybe it is safe to swim in the poo water in the long run. Ok, that was a long stretch to get on topic again. But I had to get this methanol poisoning story onto your site to warn people, as I was shocked how easy its happening on Bali.
Posted by
Lena
on
April 15, 2014 02:40
Sailor, I hope I don't know him that well but you know how it is in Thailand.. You don't always get what you want!. So let's not publicise it too much otherwise Mrs Manowar II may feel redundant.
Posted by
Manowar
on
April 15, 2014 03:55
That will never happen again in phuket were you get only quality tourists, there is so many hotels be built and buildings going up, now it is so cheap to come here you are getting low life's from every country in the world.
Posted by
Robert.
on
April 15, 2014 06:10
Found this comment on Trip Advisor while researching Penang for next visa run. Seems to sum it up nicely.
"As the years pass, Phuket is no longer competitive with other places to go in Southeast Asia. The city is losing its charm and the government/tourist authorities don't seem to be investing in what drew the tourists to Phuket in the first place. As we look forward to another trip to South East Asia in 4 weeks, guess what - we are going to Penang and giving Phuket a pass this time"
Posted by
Anonymous
on
April 15, 2014 10:10
Thank goodness for such insightful and truthful reporting !!! I am supporting as many of the green initiatives that NGO groups are implementing on the island. Airing your complaints and venting your frustrations is one thing! The most effective way for change is to create the momentum for change . Join SEEK, green beach clubs, push for recycling stations near your home , office, school etc , go and talk with your local Mayor or Vice Mayor At your Municipal Office, go and share your worries and concerns with someone in charge at the Dept of Environmental and Natural Resources in Phuket Town, linkup with as many like minded people possible to instigate ideas , activities in order to improve the situation! I have done all the above and found all of the Thai officials that I have approached with a warm smile, respect and the statement ," this is not good how can I help" backed up with pictures of the problem to be really helpful and aware ! Some really good results have occurred ! Positive action is far more rewarding, less negative and personally satisfying than just complaining!! We need all of you who take the time and care enough about the gambit of environmental issues to write an opinion , to be more pro- active we NEED your help!! Will you be part of the solution or part of the problem?
Posted by
Debs
on
April 15, 2014 15:15
Good ideas Debs, but as a tourist, I am looking for a quality vacation. FWIW, Trip Advisor does not list ANY Thai beaches on its 25 top beaches list. And while TA is not the be all/end all of travel websites, it does pull a significant traffic count from Europe and English speaking countries.
Posted by
bill
on
April 20, 2014 20:20
Editor Comment:
Phuket's beaches can return to the top 25 but only with a total change from the greed that leaves them headed for destruction right now. Let's hope Phuket authorities see the light.
3 days recovering from throat and ear infection.Lymph Nodes ready to explode, ears and head throbbing.
Guess it was not such a good idea to swim at Bangtao Beach last weekend.
Water looked clean enough.
Kamala is off the safe list too now I believe.
Posted by
hugh jarse
on
April 24, 2014 08:35
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Well said, I feel that Phuket has now gone beyond the tipping point, when you arrive at the airport it says welcome to Paradise, the you arrive at your accommodation walk through the rubbish to the beach thick black stinky water pouring into the sea. Em Paradise I don't think so. The building of the water treatment plant in Bangtao seems to have come to a halt and it seems the Govenor did not know! Phuket needs to wake up and get people who care about the environment rather than the Bht in their pockets. Employ people to clean beaches put rubbish bins out, fine people who discharge waste into the sea. Many people care so please do not destroy the once Paradise island for ever.
Posted by Granitebeetle on April 14, 2014 11:56