Under the patronage of HH Sheikh Mohammad bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, Arabian Travel Market (ATM), the region’s premier travel and tourism exhibition, announced on Tuesday, 16 May 2006, that the Thai resort island of Phuket had been honoured with the inaugural New Frontiers Award 2006. The award was presented during the annual ATM exhibitor’s party at the Grand Hyatt Dubai for Phuket’s outstanding resilience and positive contribution to tourism development in the face of the overwhelming devastation caused by the Tsunami.

Besides a unique crystal trophy to commemorate the occasion, Phuket received a truly innovative reward, nine square metres of free exhibition space at both Arabian Travel Mart 2007 in Dubai and Mediterranean Trade Fair (MTF) 2006 in Cairo, which is also organized by Reed Travel Exhibitions.

TAT’s Deputy Governor of International Marketing, Mrs Phornsiri Manoharn, who gratefully accepted the award from Tom Nutley, Chairman, Reed Travel Exhibitions said, “I am proud to accept this award on behalf of Phuket. It is an honour indeed to be recognised in this way for all of our hard work and the way in which the resort has bounced back after the ‘Andaman wave’. Phuket is a very popular holiday destination for many residents in the Middle East and the opportunity to strengthen our presence in Cairo and Dubai next year will certainly support our marketing drive to encourage even more tourists to visit Phuket and indeed the rest of Thailand and sample our inimitable hospitality.”

Phuket had been short-listed along with Beirut and New Orleans, for its gritty determination to pull through following the devastating Tsunami in December 2004. Despite their immeasurable losses, within a week, the Royal Thai Army engineers from Ratchaburi, staff from many hotels and villagers from both seafront and inland communities had completed total clean ups of many of Phuket’s beaches. In an act of solidarity, Thailand’s Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra flew to Phuket to personally supervise the early stages of the rescue and clean-up efforts. Emergency crews at Phuket International Airport quickly brought the situation under control and re-opened within 24 hours, despite the fact that seawater had breached the protective wall and flooded the runway.

Tom Nutley commented, “With considerable support from international aid agencies, the Thai government and local residents, Phuket has made an indelible impact on tourism development against all odds and it has now managed to rebuild its battered coastline, improved its shattered local economy and tourism numbers are once again approaching levels not seen since before the Tsunami.”

Phuket was chosen after consulting industry professionals representing international charities, global travel and tourism associations and journalists from leading travel publications. Originally ten destinations were selected, of which three made it to the short-list and included destinations such as Lebanon, Bali, Sri Lanka, Egypt and the Maldives who had all made tremendous strides after suffering from either man-made or natural disasters. Ultimately, Phuket was chosen taking into consideration a number of decisive factors such as, their utilisation of aid packages, support from local and national government, tangible efforts of recovery and the sheer determination of the human spirit.

Prem Patel, Director of Marketing, American Express Middle East concluded, “The way in which Phuket has recovered from the Tsunami is nothing short of miraculous. It is difficult to imagine human suffering and devastation on such a scale and their efforts are both humbling and awe inspiring. We sincerely wish Phuket every success at MTF 2006 and ATM 2007.”

Source: Sharmal Marketing Communications press release dated 3 May 2006