Phuket governor tells military officers island’s strength is its flexibility

Phuket Governor Nirat has told military, police and civil service officers that the island’s key strength is its adaptability, pointing to tourism market shifts, year-round air links and inter-agency cooperation as central to the province’s resilience.

Speaking at the Royal Phuket City Hotel to participants in the 67th Military Staff Officer Course and the 7th Joint Staff Officer Course, Gov Nirat outlined Phuket’s approach to crisis management, economic development and coordination between civilian and military agencies.

“Phuket’s strength lies in its adaptability,” he said, citing the island’s response to changes in international tourism demand. According to the governor, when arrivals from traditional European markets declined, Phuket expanded into emerging markets including India and the Middle East, helping offset seasonal downturns and maintain tourism revenue.

He also said Phuket remains resilient during the low season, with changing weather patterns continuing to attract visitors during the rainy months. He stressed that reliable year-round aviation connectivity is essential to the island’s economy.

Gov Nirat said Phuket generates about B500 billion in annual economic activity. Of that total, around B20 billion leaves the province, while more than B480 billion continues to circulate within the local economy, he said. Accommodation and food services each account for about 30% of economic activity, reflecting high tourism-related spending.

Despite that performance, he identified stronger domestic production as a major challenge. He said greater use of locally produced goods would help spread income to other provinces and reduce dependence on imported products. Among the examples he cited were seafood imports, including grouper from Myanmar and deep-sea pomfret from Sri Lanka. He also called for stronger promotion of local products such as Phuket lobster.

On crisis management, Gov Nirat said cooperation between agencies was essential. “The key in a crisis is cooperation and teamwork,” he said, adding that working relationships should be established before emergencies occur and that all sectors must operate within the law.

He described a three-tier cooperation model involving civilian authorities and the military. In that model, the armed forces serve as the frontline, the administrative sector acts as the backline, and local administrative organisations form the deepline supporting management and implementation at community level.

The lecture was part of a study tour programme for 160 participants, including military officers, police officers, civil servants, state enterprise employees and officers from friendly nations including Malaysia and Indonesia. The programme is intended to strengthen understanding of military administration, national strategy and joint operations while encouraging cooperation in governance, security and public administration.