Thanusak Phuengdet, president of the province’s chamber of commerce, said the plan will be submitted to the cabinet during its mobile meeting in Phuket tomorrow (Nov 2) and Tuesday.
Special administrative area status, he said, would help maximise Phuket’s capacity to grow in a more sustainable manner.
The plan is to be submitted along with short- and medium-term plans for the rehabilitation of the island province’s economy in the aftermath of COVID-19, which has devastated Phuket’s tourism sector, he said.
In the short term, the province aims to obtain help from the government to address financial burdens faced by Phuket residence and hospitality businesses, he said, adding financial institutions stopped handing out assistance to those affected by the pandemic last month.
As for the medium-term plan, the chamber wants Phuket to come up with a new development strategy for non-tourism sectors, namely gastronomy, education, marina, medical and wellness and sports and events, Mr Thanusak said, adding the plan would bring balance and sustainability to development.
Pichet Panapong, vice governor of the province, admitted Phuket has been hit hard by the pandemic, and is now in critical need of economic stimulus measures.
Among the various measures now awaiting government funding are a job-creation programme worth B570 million and projects to organise seafood fairs and sporting events four times a month on Phuket worth B18mn, Mr Pichet said.
Phuket province is also aiming to start the “City of Gastronomy” project worth B30mn to stimulate its economy, Vice Governor Pichet added.