The Phuket News PTA: Where is our convention centre?

A Vice President of the PTA, Bhuritt Maswongssa, complained that the PTA has yet to receive clear details from the government about progress on the project, first mooted at least 10 years ago.

“[The current silence] is in contrast to the government’s claim that they will support the project,” said Mr Bhuritt. “We’ve even heard that the project might be postponed or cancelled.”

He stressed that the project is “very important” for Phuket’s tourism development, especially to support Thailand when the Asean Economic Community comes into being in 2015, and to help the government to achieve its goal of increasing Phuket’s tourism revenue to B2 trillion in the next five years.

The ICEC project is currently awaiting approval of its environmental impact assessment by Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra, Mr Bhuritt said.

The President of the PTA, Somboon Chirayus, said that the ICEC would expand Phuket’s meetings, incentives, conferences and exhibitions (Mice) sector of the tourism industry.

Mice visitors are known for their high value; spending by Mice visitors is three to four times higher than leisure tourists.

“Currently, the leisure market is the main source of income for tourism in Phuket,” said Mr Somboon. “With high competition today, plus the economic slump in Europe, we need to look for alternatives to leisure tourism, such as Mice, sports and spa tourism.”

To attract these alternatives, Mr Somboon insisted Phuket needs more facilities such as ICEC to support tourism growth.

The PTA plans to write to the government, as well as using other resources such as the press and social media to deliver their message to the government.

Sourced: thephuketnews