Phuket tourism Essay

This line leave substructure discuss how the rapid growth and mismanagement of the Hospitality, touristry and Events fabrication has force the island of Phuket, Siameseland. The tourism patience is a major source of revenue for the island and thusly has a epochal partake.The tourism industry has just been gear uping on Phuket since the 1970s, and the increase function opportunities and in play along have resulted in much better funding conditions for residents in this short period of time. However there be septuple problems caused by topical anaesthetic anaesthetic anesthetic and Thai governings mismanagement of the constancy.The smashing decline in holidaymaker arrivals after the 2004 tsunami demonstrated the need for a wider target market place in ordination to sustain the local thriftiness. A major department with the potential to bring considerable revenue to Phuket is MICE (Mee rear endgs, Incentives, Conferences and Events), which is an orbit of rapid growth in mho East Asia.However the local government has failed thus far to arise a world kin convention stub on the island. This ill fortune to send off is as well alter the environment in Phuket, as the island does not have the message to splurge of the waste produced by the increased population particularly during peak tourist season. This is just one of umpteen problems that the government and community in Phuket must(prenominal) resolve in nightspot to develop an stintingly and environment completelyy sustainable Tourism Industry.1.0 IntroductionThis report will discuss the impact of the Hospitality, Tourism and Events Industry on Phuket, in Thailand. It will first briefly beg off the fundamental characteristics of the HTE Industry. It will then talk about approximately of the legion(predicate) costs for Phuket caused by the ineffective management by the government of the quickly developing HTE industry.This failure to plan has led to an unsustainable economy and an unsustainable environment which negatively affects the residents of Phuket. It will discuss how Phukets deficiency of diversity in the HTE Industry hinders potential growth in the economy. However not all of the impact on Phuket is bad. The rapidly developing Tourism Industry makes a real large contribution to the health of the local economy.It has elevated the standard of lifetime on the island by supplying the residents with wider employment opportunities. The challenge is to picture solutions to the problems set about by Phuket which satisfy thestakeholders with different priorities residents, businesses, information and environmental departments. Its government need to enable its various stakeholders to collaborate in order to resolve the social, economical and environmental issues caused by the rapidly expanding HTE Industry.This needs to happen in order to develop Phuket into a sustainable tourism destination. 2.0 Fundamental Characteristics of the HTE IndustryT he HTE Industry consists of three segments Hospitality, Tourism and Events. The three segments are classified as eliminate industries, yet they are not always comfortably defined as separate because many elements of each are overlapping (William sober MGT102 see Guide, 2013). A definition of hospitality is The friendly and munificent reception and pleasure of guests, visitors, or strangers (Bieringa, 2012). In the HTE industry a guest is a customer, and the soldiery is the businesses who offer services for a fee. A host can in like manner be a place, and Phuket the city performs as a host to many tourists as a popular tourism destination.The hospitality industry consists of a wide range of businesses who tolerate services such as accommodation, pabulum and beverages (William Blue MGT102 Study Guide, 2013). Na Sakohakorn (2011) explains that Tourism involves all activities which are conducted out from home. Therefore a business is part of the tourism industry if it conduct s business with customers who are travelling outside of their home territory.Events are an combinative effort of various services with the end result of an experience (William Blue MGT102 Study Guide, 2013). All three co-exist in a mutually advantageous relationship in which the different segments work together to meet the alter needs of their guests. 3.0 Development of HTE Industry in PhuketPhuket is the largest island in Thailand, which has been called the Pearl of the Andaman by the administration and local tourism operators in a bid to market it as an oasis of paradise floating in the Andaman Sea (Kontogeorgopoulos 2005). It is Thailands second largest international gateway by air, with nearly 20 zillion tourist arrivals in the year 2012 (Tourism Authority of Thailand, n.d). It was a popular merchandise port for tin from the 16th century, until the last tin mine disagreeable in 1992 ascribable to a worldwide drop in tin prices (Asia password Monitor, 2009). In the 1970s theTourism Authority of Thailand commissioned firms to come up with plans for the development of Phuket (Lauzon, 2009.).This development resulted in heavy investments in the local tourism industry from foreigners and mainland Thais, leading to increased employment opportunities and resultantly a absolute reliance of the local economy upon the sustainability of the tourism industry. This reliance has been increased extra time with the shift from traditional occupations such a tin mining, rubber tapping and fish to jobs within the tourism industry (Kontogeorgopoulos 2005). The impact of the HTE industry here is significant due to the unusually large effects it has on the lives of local tidy sum. 4.0 come to of HTE Industry on the Local EconomyThe HTE Industry is a alert element in the growth and sustenance of the local economy. This is because 38.5% of Gross provincial Product comes from hotels and restaurants in Phuket (Ichinosawa, 2006). About 80% of locals work within the HTE Industry, with solely around 20% remaining in traditional occupations. Because tourism has set out such an integrated part of the economy, even traditional occupations such as fishing and manufacturing also indirectly rely on the industry for income.Tourism has many benefits to Phuket, such as increase revenue intake, increasing employment and aiding social development by stemming the migration of youth to the mainland (Sakolnakorn, 2011). However the government has dishonored opportunities to develop a sustainable plan for tourism with constant governmental infighting (Asia News Monitor 2009). Sustainable development is defined in the 1987 Brutland report (William Blue MGT102 Study Guide, 2013) as Development that meets the needs of the present without pliant the ability of rising generations to meet their own needs. 5.0 2004 Tsunamis Impact on the HTE industry in PhuketThe catastrophic Tsunami of 2004 served to gameylight the vulnerabilities within Phukets economy. This Ts unami was the biggest the Indian Ocean has ever seen with a devastating 155,000+ fatalities in the 11 countries it butt against (Do Something, n.d).The Tsunami left a secondary impact of a stagnated regional economy in its wake. As Kasperson (2004) says, Unfamiliar or distant places may easily fall play to distorted or stereotypical cognitions. Tourists stopped attack after the Tsunami, and there is no insurance against stigma. The tourism agencies selling the legal age of packages to Phuket were located in foreign countries therefore local businesses could not develop good supply chain relationships with them to ensure sales continued.Phukets selling strategies revolved solely around its Pearl of the Andaman image as a paradise of sun and beaches. The Tsunami tainted this image by increasing the learning of risk for tourists visiting its famous beaches. Sales in the beginning of 2005 dropped to only 10-30% of normal rates (Ichinosawa 2006). Phuket paid the price for relying up on a teensy-weensy segment of a potentially diverse HTE industry. 6.0 Events as a Potential major(ip) Source of RevenueA segment of the HTE industry with vast untapped potential for Phuket is the Meetings, Incentives, Conferences and Exhibitions, or MICE, segment. MICE events are one of the fastest emergence segments in the industry and particularly in the South East Asia region. According to a study done by IHG in 2012, 50% of delegates coming to South East Asia for MICE events come from outside the region.However Phuket handicaps itself in this sector as despite decades of talks and studies it still lacks a world class conclave spirit (Fein, 2012). There was an attempt to build 2.6 billion BAHT centre in 2011 however the project is still in limbo as the environmental impact assessment was rejected. This is an example of the constant struggle in the midst of government departments for environmental planning and tourism resulting in a lack of efficient city planning. A world cl ass conference centre would contribute to the local economy by diversifying the market and drawing in high spending MICE delegates (Asia News Monitor, 2010).The failure to build a conference centre demonstrates the continued failure of the Phuket government to build a sustainable economy. 7.0 Impact of HTE Development on the EnvironmentThe rapid growth combine with ineffective management has resulted in many environmental issues in Phuket. An hold in the National Geographic Traveller rated Phukets environmental post as 46/100 and categorized it as in life-threatening trouble. These problems spawn from a lack of planning, combined with irresponsible environmental behaviour due to lack ofdiscipline in Thai socialisation, and increasing materialism and consumerism (Boonchai, Beeton, Srichai).The rising population and urbanisation have drastically increased the use of natural resources, with approximately 75% of the environmental impact universe caused by the consumption of non-du rable goods, water and energy (Ruiz-Molina 2010). An example of the problems caused by over-population is the batch up of solid waste on the island. Phukets incinerator only has the capacity for 250 tonnes of waste per day, while the island produces 300-350 tonnes per day.This means that the excess waste is piling up at the rate of 50-100 tonnes every day. Phuket also can only provide 30,000 cubic meters of water, yet the demand is 40,000 per day (Lauzon, 2009). The disputes between development and environmental protection sectors of the government hold back progress in finding solutions to these issues.These government departments fail to seek the input of the many varied stakeholders on Phuket who could offer vast insight into potential solutions the business owners and local deal (Boonchai, Beeton, Srichai). Once again these unresolved issues highlight the inability of the local government in facilitating a satisfactory compromise to achieve long end point sustainable develop ment in Phuket. 8.0 Impact on Local ResidentsThe development of the HTE industry in Phuket has brought many increased challenges into the local spates lives however the benefits outweigh the costs for most residents. One particularly deplorable segment of the industry which affects local women and children is Sex Tourism.Prostitution began due to a lack of employment opportunities for uneducated women during the Vietnam War (Ehrfurcht, n.d). It has been illegal since 1960, but the integrity is rarely enforced due to the governments reliance upon it to verify the economy (Morison, 2008). A wide survey of tourists revealed that 17% thought that the stir industry was motivation to come back to Thailand as it is easy to find (Rittichainuwat 2008).It is so easy to find because it is practiced widely in prohibit and brothels, and like in other segments of the Tourism Industry locals are more and more being replaced by foreign women (Hanenberg 1998). Another area where the Thai peop le are being replaced is the labouring industry. It is increasingly expensive to employ residents due to the high cost of living on Phuket, which means more labourers are being hired from the Union of Myanmar (Sakalnakorn, 2011).The increasingmigration of people from the Union of Myanmar, also known as Burma, is causing a perceived loss of culture and increased crime rate in the local community. Despite all of the negative aspects introduced to Phuket by the HTE industry development, quality of life has been improved for residents. 9.0 What the proximo Holds for PhuketPhuket has rebounded from the economic downturn following the Tsunami. The average hotel occupancy rate was a very healthy 75% for the year 2012 (Chinmaneevong, 2012). This rebound has been spawned by overbold direct flights from China and Eastern Europe, combined with lower costs from disceptation with the local cheap airlines.The Tourism Authority of Thailands marketing targets for 2014 and beyond are health and w ellness tourism, golfers, honeymooners and weddings, and ecotourism. It is targeting the first three areas due to the high spending customer demographics in each segment. Kontogeorgopoulos (2005) says that the Desire to spend blank time in natural settings is a key factor behind the recent rapid growth of ecotourism.The challenge for tourism operators is Phuket is to give the Ecotourists the perception that they are still on a paradise island, despite the mount tourism and close proximity to urban areas.This is achieved partly through communicative staging (Kontogeorgopoulos 2005) where the landscape near resorts is designed to give the appearance of a natural environment. Guests to Phuket can also go for day trips to Phi Phi and other nearby islands which remain untouched by urbanisation to experience the sense of exploring a natural island environment (Lauzon, 2009). All stakeholders in the Phuket community (locals, businesses and government alike) regard for Phuket to be rega rded as a Green City in the future (Boonchai, Beeton, Srichai). This can only be achieved by engaging all members of the local community to form a comprehensive and sustainable development plan for Phuket (Xing, 2011). 10.0 ConclusionThis report discussed the effects of the Hospitality, Tourism and Events Industry on the island of Phuket. The Industrys rapid development has resulted in economic benefits, but has had some negative side effects upon society and the environment.The problems have been caused by the Thai and local governments lack of compromise, lack of planning and failure toenforce laws. Phuket seems to have not learnt from the 2004 Tsunami that economic reliance upon a small segment of the HTE industry is not a good long boundary plan in the changeable modern world.The new era of ken tourism which is hitting Phuket now, combined with the level of opportunity currently growing within the MICE segment in South East Asia, is an opportunity to develop more diversity in order to maintain its economy. It is vital that sustainability of the Tourism Industry is achieved as the local economy has become dependent upon it. protect the environmental is of equal importance as the Tourism Industry and peoples livelihoods depend on an attractive and natural-seeming environment in order to keep the guests arriving. Hopefully the many stakeholders in Phuket can find solutions so the island can develop as a Green City with a stable economy.Reference ListAsia News Monitor, 2009, Thailand Indigo Pearl Phuket typical concept taps Into Islands rich history, Asia News Monitor, 2 November 2009, Bangkok. Asia News Monitor, 2010, Thailand tackiness says Phuket is the most favored destination for international beauty skirmish and wedding party, 8 January 2010, Bangkok. Bieringa, L., 2013, One definition of hospitality is the friendly and generous reception and entertainment of guests, Dominion Post, 13 August 2013, Wellington, New Zealand. Boonchai, C., Beeton, R. J . S. and Srichai, N., 2010, environmental Management in Phuket A Systematic and Participatory Approach for resolution Wicked Problem, University of Queensland Chinmaneevong, C. 2012, Phuket tourism outlook bright, infrastructure lags, Tribune Business News, 22 April 2012,Washington. Do Something.org, n.d, 11 Facts About the 2004 Indian Ocean Tsunami, available http//www.dosomething.org/tipsandtools/11-facts-about-2004-indian-ocean-tsunami Dev, S., 2011, I Do on Distant Shores, Express Hospitality, February 2011, operable http//hospitality.financialexpress.com/20110215/management02.shtml eTravel Business News, 2012, TCEB Joins Pact with Phuket and TAT in Welcoming Amway 2012 from China Moving Fast to Implement Governments Scheme and Boost Mice Industry, eTravel Business News, 9 May 2012, Available http//america.etbnews.com/21372/tceb-joins-pact-with-phuket-and-tat-in-welco