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‘A little more regret would be better next time’

Published on December 27, 2005 - Tourism operators say ceremonies should be toned down in future

Next year’s tsunami commemorative ceremonies should not be as grand as those held yesterday, tourism operators in Phuket said.

Although agreeing with the government that the ceremony would help boost the tourism industry, Pattanapong Ekwanit, chairman of the Phuket Tourism Business Association, said the government had put too much emphasis on promoting the image of the nation.

“The ceremony should be simple and show true regret for the deaths and families,” he said.

Pattanapong suggested that next time the government should only be a financial supporter and let local governments organise the event.

Meanwhile, Jeerachai Amornpairoj, managing director of The Royal Paradise Hotel on Patong Beach, said there is no need to hold a ceremony annually. A memorial for relatives of the victims to lay flowers as commemoration to their loved ones is enough, he said.

“If the ceremony is kept on annually, the disaster will not be wiped from people’s memories,” said Jeerachai, a medical doctor by training.

He was supported by villagers who echoed that the ceremony reopened wounds. Pochanee Tonklang, of Ranong’s Suk

Samran subdistrict, said she did not intend to participate in a ceremony organised by provincial authorities, saying she did not understand the real objectives of the event.

“We want to forget everything, but they refreshed our sadness. For me it is better to go to work rather than attend the ceremony,” she said.

Less than 100 people participated in the ceremony in front of Ranong’s Marine Resources Research Centre, which was chaired by Ampol Senanarong, a privy councillor.