The new programme has been launched under the "Safety Phuket Island Sandbox" initiative launched by the central government to help boost confidence among tourists travelling to Thailand, and Phuket, on holiday.
Dr Yongyot Thammawut, Deputy Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Public Health and currently Acting Director-General of the Department of Medical Sciences, chaired a seminar at the Deevana Plaza Phuket, ‒ Patong hotel yesterday (Nov 22) where 15 hotels in Phuket were awarded the certification.
The seminar also focussed on how hotel operators can prevent Norovirus and Legionella from contaminating water that their guests are exposed to.
Dr Banlang Upaphong, Deputy Director-General of the Department of Medical Sciences, was also present to give a report on the vital health issue, while Rewat Areerob, President of the Phuket Provincial Administrative Organisation (PPAO).explained how the PPAO is supporting the government’s ‘Safety Phuket Island Sandbox’ initiative.
Dr Yongyot emphasised how important the Department of Medical Sciences health-monitoring teams were now inspecting the drinking water of hotels in tourist attractions in every region of Thailand, checking for water contamination by Norovirus, the cause of acute gastrointestinal disease, and Legionella, which causes acute respiratory infections.
Phuket is the first province where the contamination checks are being carried out, Dr Yongyot said.
Phuket already had a Norovirus scare in June, when an average of 100 people a day were seeking medical assistance from hospitals due to infections. (See stories here and here.)
Dr Yongyot highlighted the importance of Phuket hotels being known as safe from such afflictions. “If we go back to before the COVID-19 outbreak, Phuket province had tourism income as high as B440 billion - the second highest after Bangkok ‒ and in 2022 it was found that 4.83 million tourists returned, generating over B166.77bn in tourism revenue,” he said.
So far 15 hotels in Phuket had been checked and approved for certification, Dr Yongyot added. However, a total of only 30 hotels have applied for certification.
Wirintra Paphakityotphat, head of the Tourism Council of Thailand (TCT) Region 11 branch, in July noted, “In Phuket, there are 4,600 hotels in operation, 900 of which are legally licensed and 3,700 are unlicensed.”
Dr Yongyot yesterday appealed to all hotel operators to apply for certification so they can promote the fact that their hotels have been inspected, approved and certified for being free from Norovirus and Legionella.
“The World Health Organization recommends that hot and cold water systems be clean and maintain hot water temperatures at 60°C and cold water below 20°C, or you can collect water samples and send them for analysis at the Department of Medical Sciences laboratory. or Medical Science Center at least 2 times a year to build confidence for tourists.
“Doing so also raises the standards of hotel establishments. This will be beneficial to the tourism industry. the national economy, hotel operators in Phuket, Krabi and Phang Nga,” he added.
The 15 hotels that have received certification are: Banyan Tree Phuket Hotel, Beyond Patong Hotel, Phuket Orchid Resort and Spa Hotel, Beyond Resort Karon Hotel, Pamookkoo Resort Hotel, The Royal Paradise Hotel & Spa Hotel, Dusit Thani Laguna Phuket Hotel, Sawaddi Patong Resort & Spa Hotel by Tolani Renaissance Phuket Resort and Spa, Katathani Phuket Beach Resort, Rawai Palm Beach Resort, The Nai Harn Phuket, The Front Village Hotel, The Village Resort & Spa and Holiday Inn Resort Phuket.