Chaos erupts late night on June 10 at Pattaya’s Walking Street: Thai rappers clash with Russian tourists in viral brawl, casting shadows over safety amid agencies’ concerns at other popular destinations like Phuket. PATTAYA, Thailand – While Pattaya has already felt the harsh impact of declining tourism and growing challenges, Phuket now faces its own critical crossroads. Recent findings reveal that despite still being a top tourist destination, Phuket is grappling with significant problems that threaten its future appeal. A survey of over 190 international travel agencies worldwide that send tourists to Phuket highlights several key concerns: worsening traffic congestion, poor environmental management, overflowing trash, cleanliness issues, taxi scams, street scuffles, and even the pervasive smell of legalized cannabis. These problems are raising red flags among tour operators, who warn that if left unaddressed, Phuket’s competitiveness and ability to accommodate visitors could be seriously undermined. Assoc. Prof. Dr. Chayanon Phucharoen, Deputy Dean of Prince of Songkla University’s Phuket Campus, shared the survey results, noting that while travel agencies still recommend Phuket as a destination for the next 12 months due to its natural beauty, vibrant city life, delicious food, and welcoming locals, the urgency to tackle these problems is clear. Phuket Tourism Business Association President Thanes Tantipirayakit confirmed the concerns, reporting that during international marketing roadshows in the UK and other cities, tour companies frequently cited traffic jams, waste management, water pollution, and the effects of cannabis legalization as deterrents for tourists. “The association has raised these issues with the provincial government and regional authorities, emphasizing the need for urgent government support and funding to address problems like traffic congestion that cannot be solved at the provincial level alone,” said Mr. Thanes. “Tourism remains Phuket’s main economic driver, and safeguarding it must be a top priority.” Phuket’s situation echoes Pattaya’s earlier struggles, where a rise in similar problems dented tourist satisfaction and arrivals. Without swift, coordinated action, Phuket risks following Pattaya’s path — a sobering reality check for Thailand’s tourism-dependent provinces. Phuket’s tourism industry urges urgent government action to solve problems before they impact visitor numbers. Phuket faces growing tourism challenges as traffic jams, trash, environmental issues, and even the pervasive smell of legalized cannabis threaten its future appeal. (File Photo)