crisis has been presented as an opportunity to upgrade the tourism infrastructure in Phuket
where uncontrolled growth and inadequate planning have led to severe environmental
degradation. There was talk of transforming Patong inth3 {gmodel tourism city’ and
learning lessons from the past (The Straits Times, 2005b), impiiicitly harnessing tourism to
a political agenda. Formal responses have, however, aroused controversy with reports 0f
authorities and private investors (some of whom hold public office) discouraging residents
from returning to their former homes, prompting disputes over land and fishing rights. The
intention is to develop the prime coastal sites for tourism, often by way of luxury
catering to affluent visitors. The displaced are usually without legal documents to prove
ownership of what is sometimes technically public land, despite having been by
their families for generations (BBC, 2006; New Frontiers, 2005; Rice, 2005). ' f g