Garbage sinks Phuket

PHUKET, 25 September 2012: Tourism expanding at 30% a year is pushing Phuket’s infrastructure to breaking point especially road systems, public transport, garbage disposal and waste system management.

Tourism players, both private and governmental sectors, agree that tourism is expanding at such a fast pace, infrastructure on the island is falling way behind.

Tourism and Sports Department Phuket office director, Santi Pawai, told TTR Weekly is failing to back-up tourism expansion with adequate services for investors.

“There are not enough roads which is causing traffic jams especially during major festivals and holidays, but due to the lack of available land and rising land prices it is difficult to address this problem,” said Mr Santi.

“We are building underpasses to ease traffic jams at junctions, but the real solution should be a light rail project that is currently undergoing a feasibility study. For me I think it’s the only way out for Phuket as traffic jams are already posing a threat to tourism,” he said.

There are three underpasses approved at a budget cost of Bt1.9 billion. The first will be at Central Festival Phuket intersection on Vichitsongkram Road. The second will be at the intersection next to Tesco Lotus Phuket and the third at Bang Ku intersection at the north end of the bypass road.

There are already objections from those who say Phuket’s land structure and soil is too soft and there are threats of earthquakes. Building roads and underpasses will also encourage residents to buy cars and experts say in the long-run they will not solve traffic jams.

The Phuket Tourist Association vice president, Bhuritt Maswongssa, said: “Phuket lacks planning and management. Local authorities lack working budgets to actually solve major problems.”

“Budgets are allocated according to the registered population, which is only 320,000 people, but the island has 1 million tourists in residence daily,” he added.

Waste disposal is burying the island, Mr Santi warns claiming there are 600 to 700 tonnes generated daily, while incinerators can only deal with 500 tonnes. The rest goes to land fill.

It is estimated that Phuket waste increases 7% annually and by 2019, Phuket’s  garbage will reach 1,000 tonnes/ day, mainly from tourism. It will take a radical change in waste management to deal with this increase that is steadily overwhelming already inadequate resources.

Residents are footing the bill through taxes, but critics say tourists should be picking up the cost of dealing with waste through a tourism tax.

Sourced: ttrweekly