The Phuket Hotels Association is encouraging locals and tourists to support a Hearts with Hands, Keep Phuket Clean beach clean up event on the morning of Saturday 16th September 2017

The Phuket Hotels Association’s Environmental & Sustainability Working Group launched the island wide initiative in support of the International Coastal Clean Up Campaign which will see millions of volunteers across the globe unite to fight ocean pollution.

The Phuket event is fully supported by the local government along with the Tourism Authority of Thailand. Member hotels are championing individual beaches by sponsoring equipment and supplies for volunteers. To keep thirsty helpers hydrated on the day, sustainable water suppliers Generation Water will provide environmentally friendly drinking water from a series of special beach stations.

“We are focused on three main areas: Phuket branding, local education and environmental protection. By cleaning up our beaches we are promoting Phuket as a global beach destination brand, we are also educating local communities, tourists and island businesses on the need to take care of the island’s natural assets, and we are preserving the environmental health of the ocean,” Anthony Lark, Managing Director and General Manager of Phuket’s award-winning luxury resort Trisara, said to explain how the clean up is part of the work of the Phuket Hotels Association.

Mr Lark, who is also President of the Phuket Hotels Association will be joined by Phuket’s Governor, Khun Norraphat Plodthong and the Director of Tourism Authority Thailand Phuket Office, Khun Kanokkittika Kritwutikon to officially open the event at Karon Beach where the clean up is being overseen by staff from Le Meridien Phuket Beach Resort, Hilton Phuket Arcadia Resort & Spa, Centara Grand Beach Resort Phuket and Novotel Phuket Karon Beach Resort and Spa hotels.

Plastic is choking the world’s seas and putting marine life in danger. Some 46,000 items of debris now occupy every square mile of ocean and plastic is found in 62% of all sea birds and 100% of sea turtle species.

The Phuket Hotels Association recognizes the need for action and is lobbying local community groups, schools, residents, expatriates and tourists to join forces and clean up garbage from the beaches around the island before it reaches the sea.