Phuket lobster festival targets B200 million economic boost

The 11th Phuket Lobster Festival is expected to attract more than 30,000 visitors, tourists and entrepreneurs and generate at least B200 million for the local economy, Governor Chotinrin Kerdsom said.

The festival, themed “From GI to Global Gastronomy”, runs from 1-31 August. Its launch was held on Friday, 31 July, in front of Chalong Municipality, where more than 140 food, seafood and local-product vendors took part.

Governor Chotinrin said the campaign aims to strengthen Phuket’s identity as a gastronomy destination by connecting food tourism, local fisheries, community products and the creative economy.

A key feature of this year’s event was a memorandum of understanding signed by seven organisations to develop and promote the Phuket Lobster brand and its mascot, “Nong Jung”. The signatories were the Phuket Provincial Community Development Office, Phuket Provincial Commerce Office, Phuket Provincial Fisheries Office, Chalong Municipality, Phuket Rajabhat University, the Phuket Tourism Business Association and Ru Rak Samakkee Phuket (Social Enterprise) Co Ltd.

The governor said the partnership would focus on branding, tourism promotion, education and intellectual-property management to create long-term economic benefits for local communities.

The programme includes a Hotel & Restaurant Showcase featuring 13 leading restaurants, promotional activities involving more than 122 restaurants across Phuket, exhibitions of geographical-indication products and networking events for food, hotel and tourism businesses.

Chotinrin said spending through restaurants, hotels, tourism services and community products was expected to contribute at least B200 million to Phuket’s economy.