Beyond the beach: Sustainable tourism alternatives in Phuket
FORMERLY a center for tin mining, the island of Phuket is now famous for diving, beaches, resorts and partying. Phuket is also a major producer of rubber, helping to make Thailand the largest rubber-producing nation.
Whereas the mining boom brought European interest and mass Chinese immigration to the island (ethnic Chinese Thais make up perhaps the largest segment of the current population); the contemporary leisure boom has resulted in thousands of Western expats and retirees calling Phuket home – not to mention the millions of tourists who flock there every year. Though the island’s population is only around 350,000, Phuket saw 9 million tourists visit in 2012.
- Kata beach, pic: whl.travel (Flickr CC)
To give some idea of the economic importance of tourism in Phuket province, the tsunami resulting from December 2004′s Indian Ocean earthquake destroyed many buildings and damaged nearly all major beaches on the west coast of the island. Within a few weeks most resorts were back in business and you would be hard-pressed to find any remaining damage there today. Though the tsunami resulted in around 250 official deaths on Phuket, the number of dead illegal Burmese construction workers is estimated to be as many as 1,000. Yet the tsunami was but a blip on the screen of tourist development on Phuket. Hotel rooms are still being added by the thousands.
The attractions of Phuket are obvious in terms of nature tourism. It’s a great destination for scuba, free diving, snorkeling, fishing, sailing and other water sports. There are of course the world-famous beaches, limestone cliffs and some nice waterfalls as well.
- Limestone cliffs, pic: PC in Shenzhen (Flickr CC)
But what if you want to enjoy the nature and culture of Phuket, but prefer to keep away from the over-developed resorts, package tours and the sleazy party atmosphere of Patong?
Nevermind the mainstream brand recognition of Phuket, there are some options which are off the beaten path and even, dare I say, ethical/sustainable.
Some parts of the island are rural and far less developed than the cities and resort areas. Take Bang Ban Rong, a village in the northeast of the island, where residents are trying out agrotourism, co-operative business models and kayak tours of mangrove forests.
From Khabar Southeast Asia:
Leaders in Ban Bang Rong, a community that dates back more than 200 years, formed the Ban Bang Rong Agrotourism Association 13 years ago, recognising the risks of unregulated development. Inspired by Islamic teachings, the group aims to protect the area’s environment and natural assets, while fostering harmonious relations with visitors.
The interior of Phuket, in sharp contrast to the cities, is mainly Muslim and consists of rubber and pineapple plantations, small villages, shrimp farms and mangrove forests. Foreign tourists are comparably rare. Phra Taew National Park is the island’s last significant virgin rainforest and is a great place for hiking and seeing waterfalls. It is also home to a gibbon rehabilitation center where you can volunteer. See the Gibbon Project homepage for more information.
If you have money to burn, want to enjoy a resort, but keep as green and eco-friendly as possible, there are eco-resorts on Phuket to cater to your tastes. One is even located on an organic farm. Read more about those in this article from the Mother Nature Network.
Phuket-based environmental group SEEK has a mission to “keep” Phuket a leading sustainable destination. Strangely enough, it seems to be made up entirely of foreigners or “Global Citizens”, probably due to their focus on foreign tourism. Read more about SEEK’s efforts here.
For information on local government efforts to preserve Phuket’s marine life see this article in the Phuket News.
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