The current edition of the annual food fair marks the 25th time the event has been held, Mayor Saroj noted.
Mayor Saroj presided over the official opening of the food festival on Saturday night (Feb 24), joined by Panachai Wasanarungrueangsuk President of the Phuket City Municipality Food Vendors Club.
More than 80 vendors are taking part in the nine-day festival this year, which continues through to this Saturday (Mar 2), Mayor Saroj explained.
Also present with stalls to sell their wares are community enterprises and local government networks, as the main aim of the fair is to help promote local vendors and help generate incomes for them, he said.
Live entertainment is provided each night, including performances by local entertainers and students from local schools, he added.
A secondary objective of the fair is to ensure all vendors comply with health and hygiene standards as required by the Ministry of Public Health, Mayor Saroj noted.
“Members participating in food sales at the event must be trained in the rules and procedures for setting up a booth, and they will be inspected for cleanliness by officials from the Phuket City Municipality Public Health and Environment Division,” he said.
“This is to ensure that people coming to the event are confident that the food they are eating is not only delicious, but also safe to eat,” he said.