Accompanied by heads of government agencies, local administrative organisations and other stakeholders, Governor Sophon highlighted the initiative’s significance in enhancing tourism while preserving the province’s cultural identity,said an official report of the visit.
The ambitious project aims to establish a new landmark in Phuket, promoting its reputation as a world-class tourist destination and generating sustainable benefits for local communities, the report added.
However, the new development will be in the Bang Khanun Protected Forest Area, and Governor Sophon on Saturday (Jan 11) reviewed the plans at the Royal Forest Department’s outpost for the Bang Khanun Protected Forest Area.
The development will feature several key components, explained the official report of the meeting.
An OTOP Plaza will consist of two buildings designed in a Sino-European architectural style, each covering an area of 430 square metres. Parking facilities will provide space for 30 cars and three buses. The project will also include 12 kiosks and six shop buildings, with each shop building spanning 24sqm.
In addition, there will be six tradition and activity buildings, each measuring 35sqm, as well as two multipurpose areas for various uses.
“Visitor-friendly infrastructure” will include 10-metre-wide roads and walkways to facilitate access, while forest parks covering approximately 15 rai will provide opportunities for relaxation and environmental restoration, the report noted.
The report did not confirm how much budget is to be spent on the new facility in the protected forest area.
The development covers a total area of about 15 rai and is designed to serve as a hub for cultural, recreational and commercial activities, the report noted.
Governor Sophon emphasised that the project aligns with Phuket’s vision of becoming a premier global tourist city, while fostering economic growth and opportunities for local residents, the report added.
The ‘Lak Mueang’ is a ‘city pillar shrine’, a traditional structure used by cities and towns throughout Thailand to serve as the symbolic “centre of the soul” of the community.
Phuket already had five ‘Lak Mueang’ erected across the island, but Phuket officials in 2023 spent B849,000 on a new ‘City Pillar’ installed at the site of the new Phuket Provincial Hall in Phuket Town, making the new monument the sixth such ‘Lak Mueang’ built in Phuket.
The original long-standing ‘Lak Muang’ at Baan Muang Mai in Tambon Thepkrasattri, Thalang, was the provincial ‘Lak Mueang’ for the island. However, Phuket officials decided to build a second, grander, ‘Lak Mueang’ also in Baan Muang Mai under a project that began in 2010.
In explaining the construction of the second ‘Lak Mueang’ at Baan Muang Mai, Fine Arts Department architect Naruporn Saowanit, explained that all provincial ‘Lak Mueang’ in the country must be similar to the main ‘Lak Mueang’ in Bangkok, the design of which follows design principles set out by King Mongkut, Rama 4.
“‘Lak Mueang’ in every province must have arches on all four sides and must be located on higher ground than the nearby roads and houses,” he said.