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The Sustainability Struggle: Phuket's Journey to Become an Eco-Friendly Travel Haven

Writer's picture: GEB GroupGEB Group

Updated: Jan 3, 2024


Patong from a distance
Patong - Phuket; where vibrant street life meets the rhythmic waves of the Andaman Sea

You know a tropical paradise when you see one. Golden sand beaches, aquamarine waters, swaying palm trees - Phuket has it all. But beyond the picture-perfect shores lies a struggle for sustainability. Phuket, like many destinations, is on a journey to become an eco-friendly travel haven, and there is still a long road ahead. The team at GEB took a trip to this Island paradise to evaluate the challenges and opportunities ahead.


Paradise Under pressure: Phuket’s s Fragile environment

 If you've visited Phuket, it's easy to see why its natural beauty draws visitors from around the globe. Yet behind the allure lies an island under immense environmental strain. Phuket’s delicate ecosystems, including mangroves, coral reefs and tropical rainforests, face degradation due to tourism overcrowding and development.


Phuket's beaches and shorelines are eroding at an alarming rate. Uncontrolled coastal construction and an excess of tourist activity accelerates beach erosion and destruction of natural buffers like mangroves. Coral reefs essential for supporting marine life and protecting shores are also at risk due to pollution, physical damage from tourism activities and climate change impacts like warming seas.


Phuket is a biodiversity hotspot, home to wildlife like sea turtles, elephants and the endangered dugong. However, habitat loss and disruption of wildlife corridors threaten native species. The island’s remaining rainforests are under pressure from encroachment for tourism facilities and infrastructure.


Balancing leisure tourism with environmental protection is a challenging tightrope to walk. While tourism boosts the local economy, its uncontrolled growth damages the very natural landscapes that visitors flock to experience. Transitioning to eco-friendly practices, environmental education and regulation, and promotion of sustainable tourism alternatives can help preserve Phuket’s paradise for future generations. By safeguarding nature and wildlife, Phuket can secure its status as an idyllic tropical gateway. Overall the island's journey toward sustainability has just begun, but its natural splendour is worth fighting for. The Thai government is creating sustainable awareness through a dedicated website called 7greens providing guidelines and tips. As tourists visiting Phuket we have a role in shaping the future of the ecological tourism that shapes Phuket with the choices we make.



Tackling the Plastic Predicament

The battle against plastic pollution is a global struggle, and Phuket is no exception. Despite commendable efforts, single use plastic continues to be widely used and plague the island's shores. The transition to sustainable alternatives and widespread adoption of eco-friendly practices is still a work in progress, leaving the island grappling with its plastic footprint.


Reducing plastic usage requires a multi pronged approach. Banning common plastics like bags and straws is a start, but viable and affordable alternatives that are widely available in Thailand must be adopted. Compostable or reusable options made of materials like bamboo, coconut and tin need to fill the void. Community engagement and education is the key. Locals and tourists alike must understand the impact of plastics and change behaviours accordingly. As tourists, simple choices such as carrying your own bag, water bottle and choosing local and natural alternatives go a long way in reducing plastic consumption. Choose fresh fruit juices, coconut water instead of buying bottled sugary beverages. See our sustainable travel guide here


Preserving Cultural Heritage, Embracing sustainability

Preserving Phuket's Cultural heritage while transitioning to more sustainable practices requires a delicate balancing act. Traditional norms have long shaped the islands charm, yet many International brands are moving in challenging Phukets local heritage.


Phuket's cultural tapestry is woven from centuries of local wisdom, beliefs and livelihoods. From the devout Buddhism that guides daily life to the fishing and agricultural traditions of coastal villages, these facets define the soul of the island. However, as tourism gains momentum , cultural preservation demands safe guarding.


Initiatives like home-stays, farm tours and cultural immersion programs are helping to sustain traditional livelihoods by inviting visitors to experience the authentic Phuket. They provide an economic incentive for preserving cultural heritage. Simultaneously, they raise awareness of sustainable practices that can be sustained without sacrificing local wisdom. Sustainable minded tourist must make efforts to support local artisans, businesses and activities over multinational brands.


Our team found many international brands like Starbucks, Mc Donald's, Taco bells etc making substantial inroads into Phuket. At its core, balancing cultural heritage is a collaborative endeavour. Government policies, business decisions and individual consumer actions must align to drive real progress. Phuket can preserve its cultural essence while blossoming into a global model of sustainable tourism. By learning and honouring its local wisdom the island can transform in a way that honours its storied past and protects its paradisiacal future.


Redefining Tourism in Phuket

The Allure of Phuket’s natural beauty draws visitors from around the globe, fuelling an economy reliant on leisure travel and tourism. However, to achieve sustainable development, Phuket must redefine its tourism focus. The Phuket Sustainable Strategies 2030 lays the groundwork for diversifying into MICE ( Meetings, Incentives, Conference and Exhibitions) Medical and Wellness Tourism and Sports Tourism and Training Camps. Read more about it here


Sports tourism, including training camps for athletes, builds upon Phuket’s outdoor recreation and natural landscapes. These alternatives to mainstream leisure travel generate revenue while reducing strain on the environment. They also create job opportunities and economic benefits for local communities.


However, redefining Phukets’s tourism is an ambitious undertaking that will require careful planning and policy changes. Marketing Phuket as a multi-purpose destination, improving infrastructure to support new markets and incentivising Investments in the medical, wellness and sports sectors are key steps towards diversification.


An area of immediate concern is the traffic situation in Phuket. The Phuket Island Light Rail Transit project, a crucial initiative for achieving Phuket's sustainable goals, is facing significant delays. The planned 58.6-kilometer MRTA light rail transit system, connecting Phuket and Phang Nga provinces, envisions 24 stations from Takua Thung District to Phuket City, terminating at Chalong intersection. Estimated at 35 billion baht (approximately US$1.1 billion), phase one aimed to connect Phuket International Airport to Chalong with 21 stations, scheduled for a 2024 opening. However, complications arose in 2020 when the MRTA announced a shift to a Public–Private Partnership (PPP) project, pushing the tender process to 2022. Furthermore, suggestions to explore an automatic BRT-style line and a potential delay until 2030 have been introduced to reduce costs and minimise traffic disruptions caused by the concurrent construction of the Patong Tunnel. These delays underscore the challenges in executing vital mass transport projects despite their instrumental role in advancing sustainability objectives.


While diversifying tourism is challenging, it allows Phuket to curb its over-dependence on any single market ( a painful lesson learnt during Covid). By cultivating MICE, medical, wellness and sports tourism alongside its leisure market, Phuket can achieve a balanced, sustainable model for the future.


Educating and Engaging Local Communities

Sustainable tourism demands the active participation of local communities. While initiatives like the Phuket Sustainable Strategies 2030 emphasises community focused pillars, there's still a need for widespread awareness and education as evidenced on the ground.


Educating locals about eco friendly practices and its benefits for individuals and the community is integral to Phuket's green transformation. Community Outreach programs aim to raise awareness on issues lie pollution, Waste management and environmental protection. There might be a knowledge gap among older generations and rural communities. However it is vital to be sensitive to cultural norms and traditions. What might seem like an eco friendly initiative to out siders could be at odds with local values. Community leaders are best placed for to develop culturally appropriate programs whilst working hand -in -hand with international organisations to adopt best practices.


For a community that is so deeply reliant on tourism, sustainability measures and regulation such as closing of islands or national parks for rejuvenation can be perceived as threatening. there may be fears that eco friendly practices will curb tourist numbers, impacting livelihoods. However sustainable tourism when developed responsibly can open up new and increased economic opportunities and prevent bad publicity.



Phuket's youth will inherit the islands future, so their participation in sustainability efforts is pivotal. Programs targeting students and youth groups helps raise eco and cultural awareness from an early age empowering them to influence families and communities. Young ambassadors can also bring fresh ideas and energy to the sustainability movement in Phuket.


So there you have it. Phuket's sustainability story is one of challenges and triumphs. While the island grapples with environmental pressures, pollution issues, balancing tradition and change, a tourism centric economy and the need to rally community support, its vision and commitment to building a sustainable future is commendable. The road ahead is long, but with strategic frameworks like the Phuket Sustainable Strategies 2030 and initiatives by the STDF charge the island is poised for promising and sustainable change. The journey may not always be easy, but for an island like Phuket, the destination is well worth the effort.


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