The event, titled ‘Transforming Phuket’s Future’, was hosted at Dara Hotel, with participation from key figures in government, the private sector, and civil society.
The seminar was inaugurated by Phuket Vice Governor Norasak Suksomboon, alongside Atthaphon Traisri, Vice Chairman of the Tourism Committee.
Also taking part were Patong Mayor Chalermsak Maneesri and Phuket MP Chalermpong Saengdee, along with Bhummikitti Ruktaengam, an advisor to the Phuket Tourist Association and also President of the Sustainable Tourism Development Foundation (มูลนิธิพัฒนาการท่องเที่ยวยั่งยืน).
The session focused on reshaping Phuket’s tourism, emphasising sustainability and economic diversity, said an official report of the event.
The event included a seminar titled ‘Lessons from the Crisis: Shaping Phuket’s Development as a Quality Tourism City’ and ‘Decoding Phuket’s Future: Creative Policies for Sustainable Tourism and Economy.’
In his address, Vice Governor Norasak explained that Phuket has a population of over 1.2 million people, but only 417,891 are officially registered residents. The remaining 800,000 are a mix of tourists and local residents, most of whom work in the tourism sector. The province is divided into three districts, 17 sub-districts, 96 villages, and 19 local administrative organisations.
Phuket’s economy is heavily reliant on tourism, which accounts for 92.9% of its income. In 2023, tourism generated over B388 billion baht, making Phuket the top earner in Southern Thailand and second in the country after Bangkok. This was a 100.38% increase from 2022. The number of tourists also rose to 11.3mn in 2023, an increase of 100.77% from the previous year.
Phuket’s international airport handles direct flights from 18 countries, covering more than 65 cities, in addition to domestic flights. On average, there are 1,900 flights per week, or about 270 per day. The province also has a deep-sea port that accommodates large cruise ships, with about four ships arriving or departing each week, and supports five world-class yachts. On average, 15 yachts arrive and depart each week.
The province is implementing a 20-year development plan (2023-2042) with a vision to transform Phuket into a “new economic city” driven by sustainability, Vice Governor Norasak continued,
The vision is for Phuket to become a "new economic city" based on sustainable development, balancing economic growth with environmental preservation and social equality.
The goal is to diversify Phuket’s economy, moving beyond tourism to create a more balanced and resilient economy. This shift is part of a broader strategy based on 10+ key economic and social pillars for development (GEMMMSSTTF), he added.