Saving What's Left of Tourism Development at Patong Beach, Phuket, Thailand

by Sirikul Bunpapong, Office of the natl Environment Board, Bangkok, Thailand,
Sompong Ausavajitanond, Office of the natl Environment Board, Bangkok, Thailand,



Document Type: Proceeding Paper

Part of: Coastal Zone '91

Abstract:

The tourism industry in Phuket, southern Thailand has grown without direction or control since everyone, local or foreign, wants a bit of the pie. Patong, the most popular beach on the southern west coast of this island has been over-used for more than two decades because of its beauty and accessibility. Currently, most tourisms are dismayed at the way it is developing. This paper discussed the effort of the Office of the National Environment Board (ONEB) through the Coastal Resources Management Project (CRMP) supported by USAID and University of Rhode Island (URI) in implementing several strategies to alleviate environmental degradation at Patong. The activities initiated by the project include organising workshops for tour boat operators to create awareness of the values of coral conservation; demonstrating the installation of mooring buoys to prevent reef damage by anchoring; assisting the operation of sewage treatment plants; and demonstrating the improvement of solid waste management system.

Subject Headings: Coastal management | Tourism | Developing countries | Resource management | Beach protection and nourishment | Water quality | Waste management | Thailand | Asia

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