Speaking at the ‘Sustainable Living In Action: NTCC x Sansiri Networking Night’ at The Society ‘social space’ in Cherng Talay, Mr Nirat said Phuket aims not only to remain a world-class tourism destination but also to become a city that balances economic growth with environmental responsibility.
The event was jointly organised by the Thai-Netherlands Chamber of Commerce and Sansiri Phuket as a platform for exchanging ideas on sustainable urban development, housing design and environmental innovation.
Government officials, tourism operators, property developers and business representatives attended the event to discuss long-term strategies for improving quality of life while reducing environmental impacts.
Leading participants included Hans van den Born, Bhumichai Mathayomphobpinyo, Bjorn Courage and Piyapoj Supharitt.
Mr Bjorn also serves as General Manager of InterContinental Phuket Resort.
Mr Nirat said Phuket’s future development would focus on innovation in lighting systems, urban design and more efficient resource management in order to create measurable environmental benefits while enhancing residents’ quality of life.
He stressed that developing a sustainable future city required cooperation between the public sector, private businesses and civil society to ensure a balance between modern technology and environmental protection.
“This event is another important platform for connecting networks and inspiring the development of Phuket into a future city — a truly high-quality and sustainable city,” Mr Nirat said.
Discussions at the event also focused on future residential design concepts, sustainable living models and expanding cooperation between businesses and international organisations as Phuket continues its push towards becoming a smart city capable of long-term sustainable growth.
SOURCE-BASED WASTE MANAGEMENT
In a separate development yesterday (May 15), Governor Nirat and Wutthichai Bamrungrat met with representatives from Prince of Songkla University Phuket Campus and the Phuket Environment Foundation at Phuket Provincial Hall to discuss a new waste management initiative focused on reducing organic waste at its source.
The project aims to systematically address Phuket’s growing organic waste problem as the island continues to expand as a world-class tourism destination.
Officials also discussed preparations for a workshop under the project titled “Reducing Waste at Source in Phuket Province: From Origin to Sustainable Management System”, which is scheduled to be held at the Phuket Provincial Local Administration Office.
Local administrative organisations from across Phuket will be invited to help develop waste management models tailored to the needs and conditions of each area.
According to Phuket officials, organic waste such as food scraps and plant debris currently accounts for an estimated 35-65% of the island’s total waste volume and is a major cause of odour and wastewater contamination problems.
The initiative aims to shift Phuket away from traditional end-point waste disposal methods such as incineration and landfill use, towards source-based waste reduction and reuse systems supported by data analysis and technology.
Workshop activities are expected to include waste source mapping, analysis of local waste conditions, development of sorting and collection systems, and setting measurable waste reduction targets.
Officials said the project is expected to significantly reduce the amount of waste entering Phuket’s disposal system while promoting a circular economy model and raising environmental management standards to national and international levels.