After experiencing what could turn out to be Phuket's busiest high season, you get the feeling that Phuket is being pulled in several directions.
On the one side, there is mass tourism, which is the source of most of the money that comes in to Phuket, but is also the reason why much of the scenery has become a concrete jungle. Then you have high-end tourism, which brings in a significant amount of money to luxury resorts and expensive restaurants. Somewhere between the two there is eco-tourism.
If Phuket is to remain the center of attention in the Andaman region, then tourism is going to have to keep up with current global trends. Many tourists are becoming more environmentally aware. As a result, they are beginning to pick and choose their holiday destinations on eco-conscious factors. This type of tourist is often referred to as a “quality tourist”.
The authorities in Phuket have said that they want to attract quality tourists to the island to protect the island's natural features, but, as with Phang Nga and Krabi, mass tourism is far outweighing quality tourism. It's a sad state of affairs because, despite overdevelopment in places such as Patong Beach, there is still much for Phuket to be proud of. Places such as Mai khao Beach are practically untouched and yet the way the island is heading, you wonder how long it will be until Phuket becomes another Ibiza.
Cynicism aside, Phuket isn't at that stage yet and there is still hope that sufficient changes can be made in order to retain the orignal appeal of the island.
This post was written by Matt from Phuket Vogue and Thailand's Lost Boy.
