Phuket authorities propose designating the province as a particular administrative region to collect and distribute tax revenue independently.
Phuket’s governor has proposed designating the island province as a particular administrative region to gain more authority over tax collection and budget allocation. This would allow Phuket to develop on par with Bangkok and Pattaya regarding the administrative framework.
Speaking at the Phuket Chamber of Commerce’s annual general meeting, Sophon Suwannarat outlined delays in implementing the resort island’s development strategy in 10 major areas and emphasised the importance of officially granting the province special administrative district status.
Thailand is divided into 76 provinces, and Bangkok and Pattaya in Chonburi are the two special administrative districts.
The top 10 areas include gastronomy, education, marina, MICE (business tourism) city, medical centre, smart city, sports tourism, tuna centre, and tourist ‘fusion’ farms. Sophon says a limited budget is holding back the province’s growth potential.
Sophon said Phuket’s budget this year was 6.2 billion baht, but most of the money went to ordinary expenses, including schools and hospitals, to promote health in the province. This is not the first such proposal. Sophon said similar proposals have arisen in recent years to cater to the growing number of tourists.
The Phuket mayor also proposed that Thai Prime Minister Settha Thaiswin designate Phuket Municipality as a special administrative district.
‘I would like to enlist the support of the Phuket Chamber of Commerce to help submit a proposal for an administrative status model to the House of Representatives committee responsible for studying local administrations,’ Sophon said.
Sophon recommends the establishment of an elected provincial governor so that the island receives more revenue from tax collection, like Pattaya and Bangkok. The method of budget allocation needs to be revised. Sophon said it is proposed to return 1 per cent of tax revenue to the province, which amounts to 4 billion baht annually.
Sophon emphasised the need to change some laws to facilitate development projects, citing current delays in road construction, such as in Patong and Chalong Tambon.
‘It’s not too late if the island becomes a special administrative zone within the next four to five years. But it would be unpleasant if the matter drags on for another decade,’ Sopkhon said.
Sopkhon said if Phuket becomes a special administrative zone, it will outsource dealing with wastewater problems.
‘If the island’s water problems are not solved in the next ten years, tourism, particularly the scenery along the beaches, will be negatively affected.’
Sophon called for close cooperation to tackle the growing mountains of rubbish littering the island, which has reached 900 tonnes a day, and suggested that rubbish be taken outside Phuket City for incineration.
Changing the subject, Sophon said special laws should be issued to overhaul the island’s public transport system.
Phuket Mayor Saroj Angkanapilas said the proposal to create the country’s third special administrative district has received positive feedback but needs to wait for a final decision from the central government.
Saroj said the island’s economy, especially Phuket City, has improved so far due to a gradual increase in tourists and investors.
Meanwhile, Surachai Chaiyawat, honorary chairman of the Phuket Chamber of Commerce, urged the government to support Phuket in addressing chronic problems, including the public transport system, traffic congestion, labour and water shortage, and to support development projects.
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