Senate subcommittee backs proposal to make Phuket a metropolitan administration

A Senate subcommittee has backed a proposal to upgrade Phuket to a special administrative entity with metropolitan status, allowing residents to directly elect a governor under a model similar to the Bangkok Metropolitan Administration.

The proposal was presented by Aphinan Phuekphong, senator and chairman of the Senate Sub-Committee on Decentralisation, Transfer of Responsibilities, Revenue Allocation to Local Administrative Organisations and Special Forms of Local Government. The study also calls for Chiang Mai to receive the same status.

Under the proposal, Phuket residents would elect a metropolitan governor for a four-year term, along with a deputy governor and administrative team. A legislative council would also be elected by the public, while a separate citizens’ council made up of representatives from professional and community groups would be created to help guide development policy.

In presenting the proposal, Mr Aphinan said Phuket faces long-term structural problems because it remains heavily dependent on central government administration despite being one of Thailand’s most important tourism economies.

According to the study, Phuket receives about 14 million tourists a year and generates an estimated 500 billion baht in annual tourism revenue, but gets only about 7.5 billion baht in annual state budget allocations.

The report also said provincial administration lacks continuity because governors appointed by the Interior Ministry are frequently transferred. It said Phuket has had 14 governors in the past 19 years, with each serving an average term of little more than one year.

Supporters of the plan said this weakens long-term planning and slows responses to local problems. The study cited beach management and infrastructure planning as examples of issues where local authorities lack sufficient power and decisions must be referred back to Bangkok.

If adopted, the metropolitan model would transfer many responsibilities now handled by 34 regional government agencies directly to Phuket authorities. It would also give Phuket greater financial autonomy, including a larger share of locally generated tax revenue.

One proposal would raise Phuket’s retained share of value-added tax revenue from about 10% to 50%. The study also recommended examining about 20 new local tax mechanisms, including environmental and education-related levies. Existing municipalities and tambon administration organisations in Phuket would remain in place.

The proposal won support from Phuket MPs after the presentation. Chalermpong Saengdee, MP for Phuket Constituency 2, called it good news and said preparations were under way for a future Phuket governor election that could help strengthen the island as a tourism and economic hub.

Somchart Techathaworncharoen, MP for Phuket Constituency 1, said he was encouraged by broader political support for the long-debated concept of Phuket self-governance. He said he had consistently promoted the idea of Phuket self-governance, or a Phuket Metropolitan Area, in Parliament and would continue pushing it forward.

The Senate subcommittee said its findings were based on 19 formal meetings, field visits to Phuket and Chiang Mai, public hearings and seminars involving academics, civil society groups, private sector representatives and government agencies.