TP Surin Beach Hotel chairman Carl G Langenskiold, The Chava Surin GM Larry Cunningham, Twinpalms Phuket GM Olivier Gibaud, The Surin GM Antonio Saponara, CBRE Property Management Ayara Surin, Ayara Hilltops GM Jean-Pierre Dousse, Amanpuri GM Frederic Varnier and Double Tree Surin by Hilton GM Simon McGrath jointly send a letter today to Phuket Governor Maitree Intusut today outlining their concerns for the event.
Last week American socialite Paris Hilton flew into Bangkok for one night to announce the massive Sydictive Element New Year’s Eve party planned for Surin Beach, as reported here. Up to 50,000 people are expected to attend the two-day dance marathon.
DJs will play on a floating pontoon, dubbed “the world’s largest ocean-floating stage”, set up in the sea 10 metres from the shore, with 3D mapping and LED backdrops.
In the letter, the group outline their main concerns as the ‘very unsuitable choice of date’, the ‘definitely inappropriate selection’ of Surin Beach and Park for the event, the ‘massive round the clock noise disturbance’ in the area, and the fear that techno music events are often associated with drugs and alcohol.
“Phuket has since many years been “fully booked” over the New Year period. There are almost no seats on flights available to and from Phuket during this period making it virtually impossible for additional guests to visit Phuket,” the group said.
“The infrastructure is already overwhelmed during this time of the year leading to traffic jams around Phuket in general and around Surin Beach in particular. The organisers are hoping for 50.000 guests to attend this paid event. Given the challenges above, it would [be] likely that much fewer people will attend, leading to disappointment for both guests and organisers.
“During several months of the year, when Phuket hotel occupancy is lower and travel infrastructure readily available, an event such as the proposed would be welcomed and surely supported by all businesses in Phuket,” the letter said.
“The Surin Area is surrounded by luxury hotels that are, as in the past, already fully booked during the peak season, hosting families visiting from all over the world and several international VIPs. These hotel guests are not aware of the proposed activities, which undoubtedly will disturb the traditional Surin Area and the planned New Year celebrations.
“The Surin area is also the home of many luxury villas and estates, which welcome either their wealthy owners or VIP guests during this period. None of which are likely to enjoy the noise, traffic and other disturbances related to this event and the “occupation” of the Surin public beach & park and all the relaxing beach restaurants they come to enjoy.
“The massive round the clock noise disturbance in the whole area which is home to thousands of tourists and villa owners, will severely disturb and would probably interrupt or even block the access to the public beach and park for a week before and several days after the event, which will lead to massive disappointment from hotel guests, villa owners and bathers visiting the famous beautiful Surin beach from all over the island.
The group also had “fear” that “a Techno Event as in other part of the world is often associated with drug and alcohol, therefore attracting drug traffickers and other criminal elements to Surin.
“Alcohol is also likely to be consumed in excess both being harmful for locals and tourists and surely a detriment to Phuket and Thailand.”
“As such and for the benefit of all parties involved, whilst you are discussing this event in the near future, we would ask that you reconsider the date and most importantly the venue,” the group asked the Governor.
“We suggest that “free seaside/beach spaces” such as the north end of Patong sports field with adjacent open land along the beach road, could host the guest services of the proposed party (same location as the Phuket Bike Week).
“It would also ease up the infrastructure and traffic issues, as most of the guest of the party are likely to be coming from Patong anyway.
“Another suitable location could be the north end of Bangtao Beach. It offers much free space, has no luxury hotel or luxury private homes in the immediate surroundings that would be disturbed.
“Both locations would also allow much better crowd control and therefore improve security, parking, transportation and health and hygiene issues.
The letter ends, “We do hope our request assist you in making the best decision for Surin area, Phuket and Thailand in the interest of all parties.”