Open The Gate to Phuket A Halal Andaman Business Cluster

ฺBy: Ekkarat Mukem

               Halal industry and tourism begin to be well known nowadays, and Thailand has developed the credibility of Halal food to various nations.

            The  Alami‘s magazine will introduce Phuket  province, and  Mr. Soratham Chinda will give us some information of this area. He is a vice president of  Phuket provincial administration organization. He is also hold a position as the president of planning and Budget, Central Islamic committee of Thailand, local government management organization, and Cooperation and support to the role of Islamic Affairs.

          Mr. Soratham  started a conversation with us and talked about the overview of Phuket province by saying that “Phuket is a province for tourism, and tourists around the World are familiar with, which means that if they know Thailand, they will also know Phuket because it is a major place for their destination”. 

          On behalf of the local government organization, they have authority as scheduled. So, it should have some encouraging labor and supporting the tourist, especially Mr. Phaiboon Upattisaling as the president of Phuket Provincial Administration Organization,   and he is considered as a master thinker and developer. In this case, he gave example of Tourist Association by mentioning that we have supported for doing road shows. This is a clue to invite tourists around the World to travel to Phuket”.

            We are sponsored for the training and budget for staff development in all areas, including the infrastruction. Moreover, Phuket provincial administration organization is arranging the budget for CCTV for the safety of residents, tourists as well as to other local subsidies.

            We currently have two projects. The first one is to establish the tourist assistance center, and another project is life guard or safe guard (The coast guard). The guard will take care of 7 beaches and 7 areas in Phuket, especially the area that have tourists. This is substantial project.

            " Phuket has population registration over three hundred thousand people. In fact, within one day people will be in Phuket over seven hundred thousand and reach to one million.  It depends on the season. Thus, Phuket provincial administration organization is responsible to service them when they located in Phuket "  Mr. Soratham said.

            Meanwhile, Phuket also has Muslim tourists, especially Muslim tourist from the Asian countries or other countries from Europe and from Muslim world.

            One of the projects that Phuket provincial administration organization is supported in term of the tourist combining with Islamic organization is the organization of Halal foods for the tourist; this year is the fifth year that we have undertaken.

          " Phuket has a Muslim population about nine thousand people. It is approximately 20% of the province. They have 54 mosques that properly registered. Muslim community is spread out in the Phuket Island.  It is indicated that 90 percent of Muslim work as tourist side, such as restaurant and services”.

            Therefore, the roles of Muslim are clearly, and they have different roles.

            As a vice president of Phuket, he looks at the growing of the tourist and Muslim market even though it is impossible to calculate the number, but it can be seen at a mosque in Phuket. They prey in the mosque and donate money. This point shows the relationship between the mosque and the tourists.

            Currently, we will see Muslim restaurant, and they introduce in English because there are tourists come to eat in it, and Muslim restaurant start to open and give more service. Muslim also finds a Halal restaurant to eat.

            In early period of Phuket Andaman, it focused on culture. However, in the past 3 years, we focused on tourism by using phase “Phuket Andaman Halal for tourist” which really means for the tourist purposes.  The main target is to provide a representative Halal organization, agency from aboard or government organization both domestic and international to experience and see lifestyle of Phuket.

            This reflects that Phuket is ready like Malaysia and Indonisia. We are ready to facilitate the tourists in a Muslim style. It has Halal food in Phuket, Phangnga and Krabi.

            For the tourists who come from the Arab world that are worry about a private stay, especially women, Phuket has accommodated a private room for about 3,000 -4,000 rooms. It means that when you enter inside, you can use private swimming pool and bathroom, and outside people could not enter in it. Currently, it is available at all beaches, such as Hat Nai Yang , Hat Mai Khao , Aao Bang Tao , Hat Surin , Pha Thong , Aao Kamala , Kata , Karon , Aao Makham  as well as the eastern part like  Mat Yamoo , Aao po , Koh Yao in Krabi.

            For the visitors who need privacy, the price is not a problem. In the past, our information is lack for the Muslim groups. This is because the highest people in Thailand like Tourism Authority of Thailand or tourist industrial association saw that this group was not important anymore.

            "   90 % Of the tourists come to South- East Asia are intended to go to Brunei, Singapore, Malaysia and Indonesia, there are 10% that enroll in Phuket Andaman Halal Fair. So, we need to motivate them for the benefit of Thailand"

            The Phuket Andaman Halal Fair has two parts. The first one is an academic seminar, and we invite the representatives from abroad as well as the important persons from Bangkok. The second part is the expo exhibition and brings Halal product of Phuket as well as other provinces including Malaysia. They come to show their products as well. 

             The activity will begin in May 28-31, 2014. The first day is a welcome party for people who come to seminar both domestic and international including quests and committee groups from Thailand. The second day is a seminar day both in English and Thai. The third day is a sightseeing tour and learn about Muslim style in Phuket,   tour to Phangha , Aao Nang , Krab. After that they come to attend the grand opening of the expo Halal food which will start on 30-31 of May.  It will be located at at Saphanhin.

            He said that this exhibition creates a symbol and send the signal to the Muslim tourist and adult in the government, and ministerial level should seriously pay attention to the Muslim tourist, Soratham said

            However, Phuket provincial administration organization has served to support Muslim community or religious organization continuously, such as, religious teaching in the mosque, training project for the Muslim way and work together with cheikhul Islam and the province department.

            Circumcision project, training operator, the development of leaders project and training Muslim women in Phuket as well as the project that facilitate the pilgrims.

            Also it used to create a moral center two place a year. Each place uses the budget about 6-7 million baht that every year will use to support the community and religious organizations in nearly 20 million baht. This number is not including the promoting project.