The seminar, titled ‘Phuket Next Chapter: Developing a Quality Tourist City on the Path to Sustainability’, was officially opened by Phuket Governor Nirat Phongsitthaworn at the Dara Hotel. Also attending were Phuket MP Chalermpong Sangdee of the Prachachon Party, along with key figures from the public and private sectors, specialists and students.
Gov Nirat said the ‘Next Chapter’ concept reflects a broad agreement among all sectors to move Phuket forward without conflict, using the island’s existing strengths in tourism, urban development and management to produce real, measurable outcomes.
Phuket’s status as a world-class destination remains strong, he noted. The island welcomed more than 14.5 million tourists in 2024, generating over B571.55 billion in revenue, said an official report of the event.
From January to October this year, the province has already recorded more than 11.4 million arrivals, with further growth expected through the high season, the report added.
The Governor highlighted Phuket’s tourism infrastructure as one of the strongest in the region, with an international airport handling more than 368 direct flights per day from 21 countries, along with five world-class marinas reinforcing Phuket’s role as a major marine-tourism hub.
However, he stressed that Phuket’s future development must be guided by the voices of local residents.
“Developing a quality tourist city means listening to the people of Phuket—what we should continue, what we should delay, and what we should discontinue,” Gov Nirat said. “Every step forward must be taken together, creating consensus without conflict.”
He emphasised the importance of sustainable city management, reducing environmental and social impacts, and strengthening human resources across government, business, education and local communities to support Phuket’s ambition of becoming an international centre for tourism, education and service innovation.
ROAD TO SUSTAINABILITY
The seminar brought together leading speakers from multiple sectors, including Bhummikitti Ruktaengam, President of the Phuket Sustainable Tourism Development Foundation, who spoke on strengthening Phuket’s development through private-sector leadership.
Thaneth Tantipiriyakit, President of the Phuket Tourism Business Association, discussed how local businesses can drive Phuket toward globally recognised sustainable tourism standards, while senior officers from local Tourist Police divisions addressed strategies to enhance tourist safety and build confidence.
Chinnawat Udomniyom, President of the Phuket Boutique Accommodation Association, presented on raising the profile and quality of boutique hotels to support sustainable tourism, and Asst Prof Dr Bandit Waiwong of Phuket Rajabhat University outlined future workforce needs for a tourism industry facing rapid technological and business change.
Dr Chaturong Kongkaew of Prince of Songkla University highlighted the growing impact of the climate crisis, stressing that environmental protection must remain central to long-term tourism planning.
Participants from government agencies, businesses, educational institutions and volunteer organisations explored technology, innovation, urban-management strategies and the development of a tourism ecosystem that supports both communities and the environment. The discussions generated a wide range of proposals for future policy directions.
The event concluded with the formal announcement of the ‘Phuket Next Chapter’ programme, which participants described as a major step in defining Phuket’s long-term direction.
All sectors expressed optimism that the initiative would set a new benchmark for sustainable development and help position Phuket as a world-leading, high-quality tourism destination capable of competing on the global stage.