Mr Rewat yesterday (Nov 28) welcomed travel experts and expert policy and planning analysts from the Office of Transport and Traffic Policy and Planning (OTP) to consult and ask for their opinions and suggestions on conducting a preliminary feasibility study and preliminary concept design for the development of a ‘tourism route’ route along the Andaman coast between Ranong and Satun Province under the umbrella of the ‘Andaman Riviera Project’
Mr Rewat yesterday also revealed that he had sent a formal request to PM Srettha, who also serves as the Minister of Finance, for help in resolving the problem of traffic congestion in Phuket.
The request was framed in terms that the prime minister “consider solving the problems of transportation system management in terms of road networks and development of traffic and transportation systems”, the PPAO reported.
The request was also sent to Transport Minister Suriya Juangroongruangkit.
“Phuket is a tourist province and is an important economic source of income for Thailand that is popular with many Thai and foreign tourists who come to visit,” Mr Rewat said.
Phuket generates some B370 billion a year for the national economy through tourism, Mr Rewat continued.
“Tourism is the main income that sustains Phuket and it generates income for the country, but at the same time, when the number of tourists increases, one of the main problems is traffic from the number of cars and buses on the roads,” he said.
“This problem leads to air pollution, stress, accidents, and affects travel time and the image of tourism,” he added.
Mr Rewat also asked for support in the PPAO rolling out EV buses to replace the fleet of pink ‘Po Thong’ buses that operate along routes in and around Phuket Town.
The PPAO’s iconic pink ‘Po Thong’ – also usually called songtaew, with their long planks of wood as bench seats fitted in the back of converted trucks – were dated and needed replacing, Mr Rewat explained.
The PPAO’s plan to use EV buses to replace its pink Po Thong buses has been in motion for years, and was even ready to be deployed in 2021.
However, the plan is repeatedly delayed and forgotten time and again, until the PPAO revitalises the project and pushes for the EV upgrade again. In August, the PPAO announced that it had allocated B156 million from its 2023 budget to buy 24 air-conditioned electric vehicle (“EV”) buses to serve public routes.
“It is considered an approach that can solve traffic problems efficiently and sustainably, improve the quality of life for the people, promote tourism and improve the image of Phuket and support the development of the tourism industry, and be a public service that truly meets the needs of the people,” Mr Rewat said.
The PPAO was also looking into its plan to provide its own bus service from Phuket International Airport to Rawai, as well as along other potential routes, he added.
“Please, please inform me further. The PPAO is working according to its authority to solve the said problem [traffic congestion] as well,” Mr Rewat said.