The event, held at the Royal Phuket City Hotel, brought together government officials, local administrators, private sector representatives, business owners and members of the public. Sujitra Yoothong, Director of the Community Environment and Specific Area Division, was also in attendance.
The seminar focused on the Ministry’s latest announcement, which updates previous environmental protection measures to better reflect current conditions.
The new regulations designate Phuket as an area requiring strict environmental safeguards due to its rich natural resources, diverse ecosystems, and status as a world-class tourism destination, said an official report of the gathering.
Governor Sophon emphasised that the revised measures aim to balance economic development with sustainable conservation efforts.
“These regulations will help control activities that may impact the environment while encouraging public participation in protecting Phuket’s natural resources,” he said.
The new measures underwent extensive review by the public, key stakeholders, the National Environmental Impact Assessment Subcommittee, the National Environment Board, and the Cabinet before being officially published in the Royal Gazette. They came into effect on Dec 14, 2024.
With over 200 participants in attendance, the seminar highlighted strong public and private sector cooperation in preserving Phuket’s environment for future generations.
The official report of the event provided no more details about the measures discussed.
The event on Monday followed the Phuket Chamber of Commerce holding its own seminar ‘Unlocking the Phuket Environment: Crisis or Opportunity?’ at the Royal Phuket City Hotel last month.
The key change to construction regulations affecting Phuket is that the Cabinet resolution now allows construction above the 80-metre limit in Phuket, which is likely to see a surge in single-building development in the hills across Phuket, with a windfall for owners of land on high ground on the island.
The degradation of Phuket’s remaining green areas has been highlighted as a key area of concern, but also dismissed by leading officials and developers as an issue likely to still be protected under the new construction rules.