PHUKET, THAILAND – Tourism leaders warned that the holiday island had reached its absolute limit as visitor numbers surged while key infrastructure projects remained stalled.
Island built for 400,000 now hosts over a million
Phuket had been planned for around 400,000 residents, but current usage far exceeded that capacity. More than 400,000 additional workers, about 130,000 registered migrant labourers and nearly one million tourists in the high season crowded onto the island.
“This level exceeds what Phuket can reasonably cope with,”
said Thaneth Tantipiriyakij, president of the Phuket Tourist Association. He said the problem had already been evident during the “Phuket Sandbox” phase.
Decades of delays for water and tunnel projects
The association said the problems were long known and that proposed solutions had sat in drawers for decades. Two major schemes were highlighted as symbols of state failure.
The Kathu–Patong tunnel project was put back on ice after government changes. The vital water pipeline from the Cheow-Lan Dam had been discussed for 20 to 30 years without a single metre of pipe being laid.
Rising costs as investments keep slipping
According to the association, investment needs had soared purely because of delays. Instead of the original billions, tens of thousands of millions of baht were now required to deliver the same projects.
High-spending visitors, empty pipes and gridlocked roads
The strategy of targeting more high-quality tourists appeared to be working, with per-capita spending above 50,000 baht (around 1,250 euros). Yet the association asked what use that money would be if water supplies failed and roads remained permanently congested.
“Phuket’s growth must not sacrifice local quality of life,”
was the urgent appeal from the association president.
‘City pairing’ to ease pressure on Phuket
As part of a response, the association proposed a “city pairing” approach. Phuket would serve as a hub and be combined with destinations such as Phang Nga or Ranong to spread visitor pressure.
However, the organisation warned this was only a temporary fix. The core demand was that the government finally move from empty discussions to concrete action.
Call for immediate construction to avert collapse
Plans for infrastructure and public utilities had existed for a very long time, the association said. It argued construction had to start now or the island risked a collapse of essential services.
The warning stated that without immediate investment in water, transport and energy, the island paradise would lose its appeal.
Risk to Phuket’s tourism model if action stalls
Instead of images of quality tourism, the association feared scenes of overcrowded beaches, hours-long traffic jams and water shortages. That scenario would mark the end of Phuket’s tourism boom.
The association said time was running out and the island could no longer wait while decision-makers in Bangkok continued to debate. Phuket’s emergency call, it warned, needed to be heard.