A member of the progressive Move Forward Party also said that the province needs public transport, which he claims would attract tourists to visit.
“Phuket has a very nice international airport, but if you want to go from the airport to the centre, you have to use taxis and old buses,” said Mr Somchart Techathavorncharoen, who is running for member of parliament in Phuket.
“We would like to propose for Phuket to have public electric vehicle transportation for everyone because if you don’t have a motorcycle, you can’t go anywhere here,” he told CNA.
His party leader, Mr Pita Limjaroenrat, wants to turn Phuket into a digital and creative economy region. At a rally on Apr 28, Mr Pita said that his party aims to promote the use of digital economy in the region to “increase the living standards” there.
“Right now, Phuket is listed on the tourist maps of many platforms like Agoda. The tourism of the future will not be the same, and the Move Forward Party will help promote the digital economy to increase the living standards of the people,” he said.
Speaking to CNA shortly after the rally, Mr Pita – who is his party’s prime ministerial candidate – said Phuket should not just rely on tourism.
“We have to diversify from resource bases like tourism or mining into a talent base which is like soft power, creative economy – the hip hop industry here is booming. You know, liquor liberalisation like craft beer as well as the digital economy,” said Mr Pita.
But beyond these general promises, there have been few specifics.
Mr Chayanon Pucharoen, a lecturer at Phuket’s Prince of Songkla University, said that politicians should flesh out their plans for the tourism sector in detail.
Source: CNA
