Some Thai based charter operators resume operations - others on hold

by IBI Magazine/Michael Verdon on 11 Jan 2005 Despite government bulletins and daily news reports concerning the continuing devastation caused by the now infamous tsunami, some sources in Thailand say that the yachting community suffered minimal damage on the Thai island of Phuket, and that much of the island's tourist-related infrastructure was not impacted by the earthquake and tidal waves.

‘Basically, TV and print media images are all of utter devastation,’ Grenville Fordham, managing director of Image Asia, which sponsors the annual Phuket Boat Show, told IBI. ‘But that is far from the truth.’

Fordham said that while islands like Phi Phi and Khao Lak were ‘devastated’ by the tsunami, much of the damage on Phuket was localised.

Fordham said that no sailing yachts were lost in the Phuket/Krabi/Phang Nga areas, and that no marinas in Thailand suffered ‘anything more than a mild rise in water levels.’ He also said that dive operations and day charters started operating within days of the event.

Fordham said there was ‘significant’ loss, however, to traditional longtail boats and small speedboats tied up to beaches. ‘It is business, not quite as usual,’ he added. ‘But very much needed to maintain the flow of tourist dollars that are the mainstay of the local economy.’

Grenville said that the UK government lifted its warnings against tourist travel to Phuket and Krabi, but then reinstated the warnings on its government web site. ‘The UK government states as facts things which are simply not true,’ said Grenville. ‘This has left France and Norway leading the way in lifting misleading travel warnings.’

‘There is no more risk of appearance of infectious diseases,’ read the French government bulletin. ‘It is therefore completely possible to travel to this area. While access to the areas more seriously affected (Phi Phi and Khao Lak) is not prohibited, travel is not allowed for the purpose of carrying out research.’

Others have complained about misleading news reports. Jeroen Deknatel, managing director of Fantasea Divers, said: ‘To those of you who saw Ocean Rover in the CBS News report about coral damage: do not believe what they are telling you! We are furious at CBS. Footage was arranged in a 'before and after' method that is not consistent with the real situation. All the beautiful 'before' footage shown by CBS was actually filmed after the tsunami.’

In Malayasia, the yachting community didn't fare as well. ‘The Telaga Harbour marina berths were totally destroyed, with up to six yachts sunk,’ said Paul Sholten, a yachtsman at the scene.
Many dive and charter operators said they will resume flights to Phuket in the next two weeks.

The Association of the French Tour operators (CETO) has also decided to resume, from January 16, departures to the Maldives, Sri Lanka, Phuket and Southern India.

Christine Desimone, a spokesperson for Sunsail Yacht Charters, the largest chartering outfit in the world, said that Phuket operations were on hold until overall damages could be assessed.

‘Our base and personnel were entirely unaffected,’ she said. ‘But we want to make sure that the water is clear and conditions are safe before we send any charterers out there.’

The company's web site has listed January 31 as a possible date when charterers might return to Phuket, but Desimone said that this is not a firm date. ‘We are taking it from month to month and will resume operations when we get clearance from the government,’ she said.