Call for govt to sponsor F1 powerboat race

PHUKET: Phuket Chamber of Commerce Chairman Pamuke Archariyachai has called for the government to commit 50 million baht in sponsorship for the F1 powerboat race in Phuket, as a way to attract tourists back to the island.

K. Pamuke called for the support at a meeting, at Phuket Royal City Hotel, held to discuss ways to revive the tourism industry in the six provinces affected by the tsunami.

He said, “The government should sponsor the event, instead of only the private sector [providing sponsorship]. The government should [provide a] 50-million-baht budget for this event.”

He reasoned that the government should support the event because it would stimulate tourists to come to Phuket, and let tourists know that the island is safe to visit.

“Tourists currently do not want to travel worldwide, and especially to Asia, so the government should support this event to encourage them to travel Phuket and to help other [affected] provinces to recover,” he said.

Tourism and Sports Minister Sontaya Kunplome said his ministry will present the proposal to the Cabinet for approval, though a date had yet to be set, while Varathep Rattanakorn, the Deputy Minister of Finance, said that his ministry had already set aside 50 million baht for the event.

“The [Tourism and Sports Ministry] will present the [budget] proposal to the Ministry of Finance with details showing how this event would benefit the nation. I don’t think there will be a problem with it being approved,” K. Varathep said.

In December, Tourism Authority if Thailand (TAT) Vice-Governor Santichai Euajongprasit said that the TAT would be willing to provide 60 million baht to support the event if it could be proved how beneficial it would be to Thailand.