Thailand government pushes ‘Phuket Model’ in Sirinat park with land crackdown and boat taxi plan
Thailand’s government said it is applying a “Phuket Model” in Sirinat National Park, with about 20 state land encroachment cases under pursuit and a proposed Boat Taxi link that would cut Patong-to-airport travel to around 30 minutes.
The government is pressing ahead with a “Phuket Model” in Sirinat National Park, combining a crackdown on state land encroachment, beach and public-area reorganization, and plans for a water-transport link to Phuket airport.
Government deputy spokeswoman Lalida Pherdwiwatthana said the administration led by Prime Minister and Interior Minister Anutin Charnvirakul is using the model to address illegal occupation of state land, improve management of tourism areas and develop tourism infrastructure in a more systematic way. She said the approach is intended to be expanded later to other tourism provinces including Phang Nga and Krabi.
The statement followed a site visit by Natural Resources and Environment Minister Suchart Chomklin to Sirinat National Park in Phuket to monitor park management, review progress in state land encroachment cases and consider ways to develop the area for public benefit. He said national park land is a national resource that must be strictly protected and that offenders would not be allowed to evade responsibility through legal loopholes.
According to the government, about 20 cases involving encroachment and other violations on state land remain active in the area. The ministry has instructed relevant agencies to closely pursue the cases through to their conclusion. It also said some cases have already reached final court judgments but are still in the process of revoking improperly issued land title documents, mostly involving large plots in key tourism zones. Suchart has coordinated with the Land Department to speed up those revocations so the land can be returned to proper public use.
The government also said it will focus on restoring the landscape and organizing beach areas within Sirinat National Park. Agencies under the Department of National Parks, Wildlife and Plant Conservation are to improve the environment, remove abandoned structures, clear weeds and organize boats left in the area. Shops and beach activities are also to be brought into line with cleanliness, order and national park law.
In addition, the ministry plans to push a pier construction project and a Boat Taxi water-transport system in Phuket using the budget of the Department of National Parks, Wildlife and Plant Conservation. The government said the service would provide a new travel option for residents and tourists, help ease road congestion and connect major tourism areas with Phuket airport more quickly.
Under the proposal, travelers going from Patong to Phuket airport would be able to use a Boat Taxi service taking about 30 minutes, compared with more than two hours by road during heavy traffic, the government said. It added that the project would improve convenience, reduce time costs and spread more income to coastal communities.
Lalida said the government is also considering development of coastal and public areas in the Sirinat zone with local administrative bodies for exercise areas, recreation space and seafront landscape improvements, alongside long-term natural resource conservation.
