A well-run race
For the second year in a row the
Laguna Phuket International Marathon was a resounding success; everyone
involved in the event deserves a congratulatory pat on the back.
By successfully merging public and private interests, the organizers
of the marathon again brought some very positive international attention
to our island.
With international media coverage, well-arranged and executed events
and an increasing pool of runners, the marathon brought in just
the type of publicity and quality tourists that Phuket needs.
A perennial goal for agencies such as the Phuket Provincial Administrative
Organization, Tourism Authority of Thailand and Governor’s Office
has been to increase sports tourism in the province. In recent years
they have made great strides by hosting major events including the
marathon, which draws high-quality, fitness-minded tourists to Phuket.
Figures released from Laguna Phuket show that this year the marathon
attracted 4,000 participants, including 1,500 runners. Among those
attending were an abundance of families and even a few celebrities,
including Charlie Webster and Andy Penders from ESPN.
Both were major assets to the marathon. Andy set an example by taking
his family on the five-kilometer charity walk; Charlie not only
finished second in her age category in the 21-km half marathon,
but also led the children’s run and cheered the youngsters over
the finish line – a class act indeed.
The next step in bringing more people like this to Phuket is already
underway in Mai Khao, where initial work on a 70-million-baht sports
complex recently began.
When completed, the facility should help groups like Team TBB, the
triathlon team training on the island, and draw more international
groups to enjoy Phuket’s warm weather, great food and relatively
low cost of living as they prepare for international sporting events.
The complex will allow Phuket to realize more of the great potential
for sports tourism it so obviously holds.
The initial plan for a privately-funded sports training center was
presented in January of 2006, when it received a warm response from
then-Phuket Governor Udomsak Uswarangkura. Although the project
has since been scaled down significantly, there is still plenty
of potential for expansion in Mai Khao, where the Treasury Department
controls over 2,000 rai of land.
Seeing the packed hotel rooms and smiling faces that the marathon
inspired, let’s hope the provincial authorities sprint back to the
negotiating table to get our sports center built as soon as possible.
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