Rewat Areerob, president of the Phuket Provincial Administrative Organisation (PPAO), said on Monday (Oct 14) that his agency had a previous goal of receiving B420bn in tourism revenue before it was changed, reports the Bangkok Post.
The new target of B500bn reflects Phuket’s potential as a leading hub for tourism, transportation and aviation, he said.
The PPAO has outlined two main strategies to boost tourism and local income, focusing on attracting tourists with high spending power to the province in a bid to increase their spending during their visit.
The first involves tackling traffic congestion by introducing 24 electric vehicles (EVs) to replace the pink ‘Pho Thong’ buses, which have served the city for over a decade.
These EVs will operate along three main routes in the city and one additional route from the airport.
The first three routes include Saphan Hin to Central Phuket shopping mall (11 kilometres), Chalong Pier to SuperCheap (18km), Rassada Pier to Andamanda Water Park (10.5km) and Phuket Airport to Rawai Beach (47km).
The new routes have been designed to provide better access to tourist attractions, schools, communities and commercial areas, Mr Rewat said. Each EV can carry 21 passengers, and trial runs are set to begin in December, he added.
The second strategy is the renovation of the Phuket Provincial Prison in Phuket Town to be converted into a public park.
The 33-rai park will serve as a green space for recreation and well-being, benefiting both locals and tourists, Mr Rewat said.
With a budget of B169.5 million, the project will include parking space for 300 cars and will be linked with surrounding green areas to create a large, central public park.