Phuket encouraged to seek special administrative status

*With the new Phuket governor scheduled to take over next month, the current governor is pushing for his successor to continue to support the proposal to make the island a special administrative zone with an annual…*

Published: 2026-03-14 20:39 UTC Event date: developing

Phuket officials and private sector leaders have renewed calls for the island to be granted special administrative status, a move they say would provide much-needed funding for infrastructure and tourism development. The proposal was highlighted at the Phuket Hotels for Islands Sustaining Tourism 2025 event held on Monday, where outgoing governor Sophon Suwannarat urged his successor and local stakeholders to support the initiative as he prepares to step down next month.

Governor Sophon emphasized that Phuket, despite generating substantial tax revenue for the national government, receives only about 170 million baht annually for development projects. He argued that if Phuket were designated a special administrative area, similar to Bangkok and Pattaya, it could secure an annual budget exceeding 10 billion baht. This increase in funding, he said, is critical for addressing the island’s growing infrastructure needs, especially as Phuket anticipates more than 16,000 new property units coming online next year.

The lack of adequate infrastructure has been a longstanding concern for residents and businesses. Major projects such as the Kathu-Patong expressway, a proposed monorail, a new waste management facility, and an upgraded wastewater system have experienced delays due to limited funding. These shortcomings not only impact the daily lives of locals but also affect the experience of the millions of tourists who visit Phuket each year.

To advance the proposal, supporters are working to collect at least 10,000 signatures from local residents, a requirement for the bill to be introduced for a first reading in the House of Representatives. The initiative has also received backing from private hospitality leaders, including Bill Heinecke, chairman of Minor International, who stressed the importance of collaboration between public and private sectors to ensure Phuket’s sustainable tourism development.

Airport capacity remains a pressing issue, with the current Phuket airport operating beyond its intended limits. The private sector has called on the government to accelerate the construction of a second airport to alleviate congestion. Meanwhile, progress is being made on the new Andaman airport in Phangnga province, where land expropriation is underway, with up to 4,000 rai acquired out of a planned 7,000 rai in Kok Kloi.

Efforts to improve waste management are also ongoing. Phuket is building a new waste burning station with a capacity of 500 tonnes per day, which, when completed, will increase the island’s daily waste disposal capacity to 1,200 tonnes, covering key areas such as Patong, Karon, and Cherngtalay.

As the new governor prepares to take office, attention will focus on whether momentum for special administrative status can be maintained and if these critical infrastructure projects will move forward to meet the needs of both residents and tourists.

Source: https://www.bangkokpost.com/business/general/3097809/phuket-encouraged-to-seek-special-administrative-status