Maj.
Gen. Sanan Kajornprasart, sees sustainable tourism as road to peace and
reconciliation.
Patcharapol Panrak
A government proposal to designate Pattaya as a
special area for sustainable development got its first public forum this
month, with Thailand’s deputy prime minister backing a plan that could
see the area receive 10 billion baht in funding.
Deputy Prime Minister Maj. Gen. Sanan Kajornprasart,
who oversees the Designated Areas for Sustainable Tourism
Administration, (DASTA) was among the political leaders at the January
19 meeting at Nong Nooch Tropical Garden. He was joined by Mayor
Itthiphol Khunplome, Chonburi Governor Wichit Chatpaisit and top Bangkok
bureaucrats in reviewing a three-year national plan to designate as many
as 13 regions as sustainable tourism destinations.
Sanan said he sees tourism promotion as one of the
steps in the ruling Democrat Party’s “reconciliation” plan to hear
cultural and political divisions that resulted in deadly riots last
year. Among the sub-projects the deputy premier envisions are networks
devoted to environmentalists, youth, media and tourism businesses.
What it may really turn out to be, however, is a
windfall for local politicians who stand to benefit from billions of
baht in government spending on their pet projects.
Pattaya’s five-year pursuit of government funding to
solve its many environmental, infrastructure, crime and tourism woes
began with an application for DASTA recognition in May 2008, although
city officials had been trying out since 2005 how to meet the program’s
discerning qualifications.
Set up by a 2003 royal decree, DASTA was given a
mission to integrate and oversee tourism development in areas designated
to have superb natural environments, cultural and traditional importance
and have been developed for tourism purposes. Among the first projects
approved were Koh Chang National Park, the Chiang Mai Night Safari, Koh
Lanta, Koh Samet and the Nongteng-Chakkarat forest in Nakhon Ratchasima.
With its sprawling nighttime industry and many
environmental problems, Pattaya’s bids for DASTA status - and the
millions in baht that come with it for mayoral pet projects - were
repeatedly turned away. But in July 2008 Bangkok officials conceded,
admitting Pattaya formed a “distinctive” area for international tourism
and could retain its status as a draw for foreign currency if developed
properly.
Thus began nearly three years of discussions and
proposals that culminated in 29 public hearings and private meetings and
the March 2009 designation of a 928 sq. km. zone that comprising Pattaya
and the eight districts. In the middle of last year, the DASTA board
hired four consultancy firms to draw up the proposed master plan
addressed this month.
More public hearings will need to be held before the
plan is submitted to the Cabinet. Only if approved would the city start
to see funds.
