Tourism and real estate operators in Phuket have recently urged the provincial government to address infrastructure shortcomings in the Cherngtalay area, citing the rapid pace of development and rising demand in both the tourism and property sectors.
The request was made through a white paper submitted to the governor, which outlined pressing issues related to traffic congestion, population growth, and future development plans. The document, developed by hospitality consultancy C9 Hotelworks in collaboration with local stakeholders, presents an overview of existing infrastructure and future projections in Cherngtalay.
According to the white paper, Cherngtalay currently has 3,863 hotel rooms, with 1,194 additional rooms expected to be added between 2024 and 2028. The area is also undergoing significant residential growth, with 18,138 new housing units across 104 projects projected by 2035. This would be in addition to the nearly 14,000 residential units already registered.
Commercial developments such as Boat Avenue and Porto de Phuket are already established, while new projects like Boat Avenue Lakefront may attract international retailers including Ikea, Decathlon, and HomePro. The area’s schools are also seeing a rise in enrolment numbers, consistent with population increases.
The report highlights the strain these developments are placing on public infrastructure and calls for improvements to accommodate current and future needs. Recommendations include implementing a floor area ratio system to enable higher-density development and more efficient land use.
It also suggests enhancing public transportation by adding bus feeder lines to complement the upcoming Phuket Light Rail Transit System. These would provide connections between residential and commercial zones and reduce dependence on private vehicles, contributing to more sustainable tourism and urban development.
Additional proposals involve moving overhead power and telecommunications lines underground to facilitate road expansion, constructing bypass roads and flyovers at traffic-prone junctions, and increasing the availability of green spaces and pedestrian-friendly infrastructure.
The initiative was led by C9 Hotelworks managing director Bill Barnett, with support from various local developers and business operators who were involved in preparing and endorsing the white paper.
