Government's 1 Billion Baht Tourism Stimulus Package Ignores Phu

I agree with the author that the Government needs first to ensure that Tourism returns to and is well served in those areas where natural attraction and past investments are yet to restabilise business and visitation numbers bringing economic benefit to the country as a whole.

I have just completed a five day journey updating myself on coastal possibilities along the Prachuab Khiri Khan coastline with a long term view. Helping communities in those areas with future tourism developments would no doubt be welcome by the people there. It needs a lot of earlier work however by responsible government providing considerably more important attention to present day better water conservation, sewerage disposal works, and landfill and waste treatment works.

It needs to extend to limitations on present industrial sprawl into residential community areas, a reduction in agricultural runoff pollution and other basic improved infrastructure for the general population now. They are generally a politically resigned, moderate and happy people mostly, knowing the present attention is likely to remain elsewhere, but already need help with better policing of present day breaches of best practice with boating operators catering primarily to domestic tourists at present and better environmental control over much of the current water excursion activities already offered in the area before any one seriously should consider more and larger tourist coastal strip development. Current Community standards on beach and bay protection are often nascent at best by observation and would benefit from further education on preservation and implementation by government through examples of best practice. CONTINUED BELOW -></p>

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The lower reaches of this region have a lot of charm and potential but a serious airport installation somewhere between PKK and Chumporn for easier access and for regional air travel would be essential, while the return of some of the better beaches from the military would also need to be considered. In truth, the beaches, the water quality and conditions of the Royal Coast are not serious world beaters by any stretch of the imagination today and that requires an objective acknowledgment.

They need careful evolution if they are to benefit from the attraction of serious domestic and international interest. Private investors will be encouraged no doubt but should not make major plans for this area without serious investment first by a government that sees beyond the immediate vote gathering advantage and rather into how the area's peoples can be better served and it's attractions can be uniquely featured rather than as just 'a natural continuance' of the coastal strip left to speculators who will need infrastructure improvements to survive better than those early ones currently in evidence. Much of the available mapping here is also in need of a more timely update at this time with GPS a essential tool off the main highway for the moment.

Strong shock absorbers are also recommended for the much patched left hand lane (caused by both weak road making for its usage factors and the passage of heavily loaded trucks to the south) with road access the only current serious access at this time for moving numbers of potential vistors. The right hand lane, as often seen in the present trip to the Hua Hin - Cha Am areas closer to BKK, remains Thailand's F1 training ground both day and night regardless of vehicle or driver quality.

Bill Barnett responds:
good literate comments thanks