Phuket reefs perish under assault of tourist hordes

By JAN McGIRK

Beneath the blue Andaman Sea, Phuket's coral reefs are in ruins. Just as Thailand prepares for an upsurge of new visitors, with the Government aiming to double its tourist revenues, marine biologists have warned that careless development has already wrecked two-thirds of the reefs surrounding the resort island of Phuket. No wonder authorities are getting that sinking feeling.

Seen from a high-rise hotel room or a deserted beach, the vistas of forested limestone islets that featured in a classic James Bond speedboat sequence and The Beach are just as breathtaking as ever. But being one of the world's top 10 yachting and diving destinations is slowly mutilating its 14sq km underwater garden. Sludge and debris washed into the sea from construction work across the island is the main cause of the reefs' demise, said Nipon Pongsuwanthe, from the Phuket Marine Biological Centre.

Commercial fishing and daytripping divers have also harmed the delicate coral formations. And researchers at the Department of Marine and Coastal Resources say this part of the Andaman Sea is awash with 10,000 tonnes of rubbish. Floating garbage has increased by 10 per cent since last year, they say.

"Tourism has increased and tour groups irresponsibly dump litter," said the Environment Minister, Suwit Khunkitti. In co-operation with the Scuba Diving Association of Thailand, the environment ministry enlisted 100 underwater dustmen who voluntarily retrieved 300kg of rubbish around the tropical island of Koh Racha Yai, near Phuket.

Most of the harmful flotsam and jetsam was left by fishing trawlers; a discarded ring net floating near Koh Ngung had snagged on the reef and smothered hundreds of fish. But soggy cigarettes, used condoms, dirty nappies and polystyrene cups also were evident.

The majority of damaged coral around Phuket was found in the most popular diving sites for tourists, such as the Ha Noi Islands, Koh Ngam, Koh Tapao Yai, Koh Tapao Noi and Koh Rang Yai.


Three bouts of global warming, which raised temperatures enough to kill and bleach coral during the 1990s, also contributed to the ecological crisis.

Thai environmentalists are equally dismayed by a 240km petroleum pipeline in the works. The proposed Strategic Energy Landbridge is planned to link Middle Eastern oil producers to consumers in East Asia, bypassing a long tanker journey around the Malay Peninsula.

Few of Phuket's diving shops welcome the prospect of the pipeline's offshore platform, scheduled to be built south of Khao Lak, because of the increased risk of pollution. Three local tourism authorities have written protest letters to Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra.

Aggressive promotion of the so-called Andaman Triangle, which includes Phuket plus mainland resorts in Krabi and Phang Nga, is part of a government scheme to boost high-end tourism and double the industry's takings by 2008. The travel industry accounts for 6 per cent of Thailand's economy.

Promoters have launched a feasibility study for developing Phuket as a duty-free port city, similar to Malaysia's Langkawi. Phuket has become home to a lively expatriate community, serviced by several international schools and regular international airlinks. Now the island's airport is destined to become a hub for South-east Asia's burgeoning no-frills airlines, as well.

Neighbouring Singapore, which supplies half a million of Phuket's 4.2 million tourists every year, is considering building an airport terminal from scratch, specifically to service the proliferation of new budget airlines in the region. Reduced airport landing fees are enticing them to Phuket. As a result of start-up competition, promotional airfares from Singapore to Phuket have dropped to unprecedented lows.

Bargain round-trip tickets can cost under Singapore $1 (90 cents) each way. These budget air tickets can be purchased on the internet or picked up at supermarkets and convenience stores. Such prices are undercutting even bus fares, and attracting a new class of first-time flyers.

Local environmentalists are keen to educate the visitors about taking care of the sea. Releasing giant clams, which are bred in captivity, to help filter the waters is a pet project.

"I think we've taken enough from the sea and it's high time that we started giving something back in return," scuba diver Jatuporn Suralertrungsun told the Bangkok Post.

- INDEPENDENT