The direction was detailed during a ‘Governor Meets the Press’ forum held at Phuket Provincial Hall.
Joining the briefing were Phuket Provincial Police Commander Pol Maj Gen Sinlert Sukhum, Phuket Chamber of Commerce President Kongsak Khoophongsakorn, Phuket Provincial Cultural Officer Puangpaka Chaowai and Deputy Director of the Tourism Authority of Thailand Phuket office, Raveewan Saengchan.
PHUKET EYE
A central focus of the talk yesterday was progress on the ‘Phuket Eye’ project under the concept ‘Phuket Eye Everywhere – Phuket, a Safe City’.
Governor Nirat said safety remains the foundation of Phuket’s economic and tourism development. The province is upgrading its CCTV system to create a modern, integrated network covering key and high-risk areas.
The project will expand the number of cameras from 233 to 503, with 11 sub-command centres established at police stations across the island. With a total budget of B98,739,100, the project is currently underway and is expected to be completed in the second quarter.
Pol Maj Gen Sinlert said the intelligent camera system can perform facial recognition, licence plate detection, behavioural analysis and store data for up to 30 days to support investigations and proactive crime prevention. The network will be linked to a central command centre and integrated with systems operated by local administrative bodies and the private sector.
Police will also continue strict enforcement, particularly in cases involving offences by foreigners, unlicensed driving, car rental regulation and illegal employment, officials said.
SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT
On economic and environmental policy, Mr Kongsak said the private sector stands ready to support provincial initiatives, including waste separation at source, recycling networks, environmental management and anti-corruption campaigns.
Businesses will also promote drug-free workplaces and cooperate with authorities to prevent narcotics infiltration, helping to raise standards and improve Phuket’s image.
Both sectors agreed to encourage residents working and living in Phuket to formally transfer their household registration to the province. Accurate population data affects central government budget allocations for public utilities, education, healthcare and infrastructure, as well as tax revenue returned to local authorities.
Governor Nirat said integrated cooperation between government, business and the public is essential to balance economic growth with social and environmental sustainability.
ART PASSPORT
The province also launched ‘ART PASSPORT: Thailand Biennale, Phuket 2025’, running from Mar 1 to Apr 30, to promote arts and cultural tourism.
Linked to the Thailand Biennale, the initiative will feature works by 65 artists under the theme ‘Eternal Kalpa’ across 20 main exhibition venues and 13 pavilions around Phuket.
Visitors can collect stamps from participating venues, with limited-edition souvenirs available and special gifts for the first 100 participants who complete the full set.
Officials said the campaign aims to create a new tourism experience connecting art, culture and communities, distribute income locally and reinforce Phuket’s image as a world-class creative city.