In the past, "Phuket" has been one of Thailand's top tourist destinations. However, the image of Phuket today is not just that of a tourist city; it is also a location that investors are keenly observing, positioning itself as an economic hub comparable to Silom-Sathorn.

The question is, how ready is “Phuket” to evolve into a fully-fledged economic city or a “Green City”, particularly as a MICE City (Meetings, Incentive Travel, Conventions, Exhibitions) in line with government policy?

The answer to this question can best be analyzed by the locals themselves, such as Mr. Boon Yongskul from Phuket City Development Co., Ltd. (PKCD) and Chairman of Boat Development Co., Ltd. who shared ideas on the future development of Phuket at the seminar “TREA TALKS Real Estate 2017 - Future Thailand: How to Move Forward Without Leaving Anyone Behind,” organized by the Thai Real Estate Association in collaboration with TERRA BKK and various business partners.

5 Phuket-style Problems Not to Be Overlooked

To be honest, Phuket has a population of only 400,000, with a total population including migrants of less than 1 million. Yet, Phuket attracts 13 million tourists annually, generating over 300 billion baht in revenue each year. There are hotels ranging from 2 to 6 stars, with some rooms priced up to 200,000 baht per night during peak season.

This rapid growth means Phuket must face urban development challenges, similar to those in major metropolitan areas. Mr. Boon broadly categorized Phuket's issues into five main areas:

1. Traffic congestion: The biggest classic problem of a growing city.

2. Expensive taxi fares: The distance from Phuket Airport to the city center is about 20 kilometers, yet the fare jumps to 1,000 baht, with no room for negotiation. This is due to insufficient transportation systems in Phuket.

3. Inadequate public transportation coverage.

4. Airport capacity for tourists is insufficient: Even with a new airport, it still cannot accommodate the influx of tourists, especially from China, as well as the return of tourists from Russia, India, and the Middle East, such as Kazakhstan.

5. No cruise ship dock: It is strange that Phuket, a top marine tourism destination in Thailand, lacks a cruise ship dock. Currently, arriving ships must go to Patong Beach and transfer passengers via small boats, causing inconvenience.

The Power of the Private Sector as a Bridge for Collaboration

Viewing Phuket's problems through the eyes of locals led to the establishment of “Phuket City Development,” a collaboration of 25 local entrepreneurs registered as a social enterprise aimed at improving the quality of life in Phuket. They volunteer to act as a bridge between the government and the private sector, with urgent missions divided into three areas:

1. Technology: Implementing GIS systems to identify raw water sources or population density, allowing for more precise urban expansion planning.

2. Acting as a mediator between the private sector, government, and citizens.

3. Working professionally: Initially, the working group has divided the development of Phuket into 12 areas, with experts in those fields taking the lead:

12 Strategies for Pioneering a New Dimension for Phuket

Bu1: Development of Public Transportation and Maritime Transport Systems: This is a key highlight of the project, including plans to build ferry and speedboat terminals to connect travel between Phuket, Phang Nga, and Krabi, reducing travel time from 3 hours to just 45 minutes. This not only creates a new dimension for tourism, allowing visits to three southern provinces in one trip but also strengthens the unity of these three provinces.

“The most important thing is the public transportation system. If we don’t act today, it will only get worse. We are pushing the government to establish a transit electric train system using the PPP model. Additionally, there is a pilot project for developing smart buses that are timely, safe, and of high quality. In the future, these will be paired with an app to check real-time bus locations, pay fares through the app, and provide Wi-Fi, which will help reduce traffic congestion. The smart buses are set to start operating in 2018,” Mr. Boon added.

Bu2: Development of Areas Surrounding Transport Stations: This is a continuation of Bu1.

Bu3: Development of Ports:

Bu4: Development of Alternative Energy Power Generation Systems: Currently in the information gathering phase.

Bu5: Development of Water Resource Management Systems for Consumption: Phuket, 60 years ago, started from tin mining. Now, there is a grouping of mining areas to repurpose land for water supply or local government use, ensuring Phuket has sustainable, quality water in the long term.

Bu6: Development of a Tourism Information Application Platform: An app providing comprehensive tourism information about Phuket, created by locals, covering hotel recommendations, dining options, and local shopping spots, with real-time data recording. It features a Two Way Win-Win Strategy where locals benefit and tourists receive information, with plans to launch this year (2017).

Bu7: Promotion of Tourism and Investment:

Bu8: Organizing Asian-level Conferences and Exhibitions: Pushing for Phuket to have an international convention center to provide space for information exchange and promote the potential of southern businesses.

Bu9: Development of Iconic Tourist Attractions: Creating new tourism landmarks to enhance Phuket's vibrancy and keep it trendy.

Bu10: Development of Smart Public Lighting Systems:

Bu11: Development of Smart Safety Systems: This is crucial for tourism. Initially, plans are underway to create Smart Security Location-Track and Smart Emergency Alert systems that notify through an app.

Bu12: Development of a Knowledge Repository for Urban Development:

This is just the first step in a participatory urban development planning process. However, what Mr. Boon envisions goes beyond this: the development of this area into a model “Green City Phuket” to pass on to future generations, following the philosophy of Phuket City Development: “No One Left Behind - We will move forward together, leaving no one behind.”

Information from the TREA TALKS REAL ESTATE 2017 event on June 29, 2017.

Article by: TerraBKK Knowledge Repository

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