푸켓 호텔/리조트 고를시 주의할 점/쓰나미 피해를 많이 받는 리조트들

 

*기사출처:http://www.smarttravelasia.com/Tsunami.htm

 

최근 태국 전역의 쓰나미 경보 시스템이 작동하지 않는다는 기사들이 나오고 있습니다. 태국 당국의 반성과 개선을 촉구합니다.

 

다음은 푸켓 2004년 12월 26일 쓰나미로부터 피해를 받은 리조트 관련 기사로 내용을 보면 해변가까이에 있는 리조트들은 대부분 피해를 받았다는 것, 해변가의 리조트들중 지내가 낮은 리조트들은 비치프론트,1,2층이 피해를 받았다는 것을 알 수 있습니다.
의외로 까론비치 리조트들이 피해를 별로 받지 않았는데 이유는 까론비치의 백사장의 높이가 높다는 것, 그리고 까론비치의 리조트들 상당수가 해변가에 있지만 높은 곳에 위치한 까닭으로 보여집니다.

한국인들이 많이 가는 르메르디안은 그라운드 플로어인 1층과 로비정도까지만 피해를 받았다는 내용이 나옵니다. 파통지역의 리조트들이 피해를 가장 많이 받았는데 대표적인 곳이 파통의 홀리데이인 리조트 아마리 코랄,파통머린, 임피아나 푸켓리조트입니다. 반타이는 앞에 방파제 역활을 하는 복합건물이 있고, 지대가 높은 곳에 위치해 피해가 거의 없다는 것이 특징입니다.

 

까타지역의 경우 비치바로 앞에 위치한 까타타니 리조트가 가장 피해를 많이 받았고, 까타의 중앙을 차지한 클럽메드 역시 피해를 많이받은 리조트입니다. 그리고 피피의 경우 의아하게도 피피 아일랜드 빌리지, 홀리데이인 피피는 쓰나미가 피해갔지만 피피의 다운타운인 피피섬 로달람만 주변은 완전히 초토화시켜 그당신 피피섬에서 가장 인기가 있던 피피 프린세스 리조트는 흔적조차 없이 사라졌고, 피피 카바나는 상당부분 파손되어 1년이상 오픈하지 못했습니다.

 

 

 

Patong is abustle.

Restaurants, shops, bars, and that unfailing barometer of health, pirate DVD stalls, are back in action

Thailand

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Laguna Phuket's pristine Bang Tao beach at the Sheraton on 6 January 2005.

Suraphon Svetasreni of the Tourism Authority of Thailand reports that by the last week of January 2005, 78 percent of Phuket was operational with 33,587 rooms on line. In Krabi, 91.64 percent of the room inventory escaped undamaged while in Trang, "100 percent of the tourism infrastructure is intact". According to Suraphon, "While some shallows saw marine damage, deep coral is safe and in places like the Similans, all livaboards are operational." Suraphon adds that Patong's clean-up will be directed towards turning it into a "model beach" with proper zoning and a fresh new look.

 

Phuket

Hard hit was the normally bustling entertainment epicentre of Patong. Much of the initial television footage centred here. Tidal waters came inland a fair distance destroying much of the beachfront and causing flood damage to several resorts in the area like Club Andaman (still operational though some cottages were initially damaged), Phuket Tropica, Patong Beach Resort, Holiday Inn Resort Phuket, Patong Merlin, Impiana Phuket Cabana and the Amari Coral Beach. Amari Coral Beach reopened on 1 July, 2005, after a major refurbishment, restyling of all rooms, a new-look lobby, a redesigned La Gritta Italian Restaurant, two swimming pools and the Sivara Spa.

 

The Amari Coral Beach has reopened with a Sivara Spa, redesigned La Gritta Italian Restaurant, and smart new rooms

The boutique Burasari Patong (www.burasari.com), partially protected in a sheltered soi, reopened 3 February, 2005, after a swift ground floor and pool area clean-up and refurbishment personally directed by livewire owner Lily Udomkunnatum. Under-construction lifestyle resort Burasari Jungceylon was far enough inland to escape flooding and sister Rena Udomkunnatum is pressing ahead with that development. The Patong Merlin Hotel reopened in late March, 2005, while the Merlin Beach Resort became operational in April 2005. With its breezy location on a hillside, the stylish Thai-villa Baan Yin Dee (www.baanyindee.com) was completely unaffected and is operating normally.

According to Club Andaman's manager Adison Sitthiwong, "Cottages are going to be completely refurblished. only 38 cottages (Andaman Cottages) out of 52 will be in operation. The remaining 14 will be demolished and upgraded." pr@clubandaman.com. Club Andaman cottages reopened for booking in February. Patong is being cleaned up fast. While the beachfront road - where most of the damage occurred - is quiet, inner streets are abustle with restaurants, shops, bars, and even that unfailing barometer of health, pirate DVD stalls, back in action. The popular beach road seafood restaurant Savoey has reopened and, up the hill, Baan Rim Pa is is in fine health. Farther south, however, Montri's Kitchen is closed.

 

Up the coast, JW Marriott Phuket Resort & Spa (http://marriott.com/property/propertypage/hktjw) is humming and well back on track. Says group PR director Lee Sutton, “Damage at the resort was confined to the beach, gardens and pool area.” By the second week of January all services and facilites were operational, according to Lee. The Minor Group which owns the JW (through Royal Garden resorts) had set up a relief fund.

Dusit Laguna, Phuket: 6 January 2005. Pool and grounds back to normal.

The former tin-mine turned tourism icon, Laguna Phuket, “was protected from a direct hit by the headland to its South. Says spokeswoman Debbie Dionysius, “Of the five hotels at Laguna Phuket, Banyan Tree Phuket (www.banyantree.com/en/phuket/index.html) and Allamanda Laguna Phuket were unscathed apart from damage to a small beach restaurant operated by Banyan Tree.” The Sheraton Grande Laguna Phuket (www.starwood.com/phuket) had six rooms out of commission, and Laguna Beach Resort 14. Sheraton is functioning normally with pool and beach areas open. The Thai beachside restaurant is being rebuilt.

Reports Banyan Tree, “Banyan Tree Phuket was left unscathed. Sands Restaurant, which is the resort’s beach bar and snack restaurant was damaged." Banyan Tree has set up a relief fund to supplement its ongoing Green Imperative Fund (GIF). Allamanda Laguna Phuket beach is also not affected. By the first week of January 2005, the entire Laguna Phuket area, including the beach, was functioning normally. There was no visible sand erosion along the shoreline and guests were enjoying the sun and astonishingly clear waters. In a sure sign that commerce is alive and kicking, the seaside shacks selling gewgaws and T-shirts are back, tacky but triumphant.”

The Dusit Laguna Resort (phuket.dusit.com) is moving swiftly to repair 24 beachfront rooms that suffered flood damage. According to Dusit Laguna general manager Sam-Erik Ruttman, “A wave surge inundated some groundfloor rooms of the North Wing, La Trattoria [restaurant] and Casuarina Hut. The garden and beach areas including pool are already open and the repaired guest rooms commenced business late January 2005. The Dusit Ballroom has reopened while the two restaurants have been entirely rebuilt and remodelled. For Laguna Phuket enquiries: http://www.lagunaphuket.com or Tel: [66-76] 324-060. Laguna Phuket has set up a tsunami relief fund. Details and donations at www.lagunaphuket.com/tsunamifund.

 

The Chedi, Phuket: 6 January 2005. Beach and pool are open.

The Chedi Phuket which received a fair bit of international publicity with a sequence of photographs showing a wall of water overwhelming the beach restaurant, was fully operational when I visited in the first week of January 2005. only the “Beach Restaurant and 19 Beach and Deluxe Cottages are in need of repair,” according to general manager Daniel Meury (Tel: [66-76] 324-017 or www.ghmhotels.com). Adds Meury, "The affected rooms and the Beach Restaurant will be renovated between April and October." The beach restaurant lawns have been restored and will host seafood barbecues in late January. The beach itself, as in so many other areas, is in pristine shape and shows no evidence of the brief surge. Chedi guests were evacuated from the beach in time as were guests at the Amanpuri (www.amanresorts.com) which shares the same idyllic cove. Both resorts are set on stilted walkways, largely out of harm’s way. Says Trina Ebert of Amanresorts, “The only structural damage to [Amanpuri] was the Beach Gym. Access roads are open, the resort is fully functional and none of the Aman Cruises vessels were damaged. Amanpuri is fully functional and the beach area shows no signs of damage. An alert young Aman employee spotted the tide receeding dramatically and called the cruise director who immediately sounded the alarm, evacuating guests from the beach and calling incredulous resorts farther up the coast to warn them of impending danger. In an unprecedented move to help "revitalise the island’s tourism" Amanresorts has announced "a 50 percent reduction on its rack rates for stays at Amanpuri until October 2005."

 

In an unprecedented move to "revitalise Phuket tourism", Amanpuri is offering 50 percent off rack rates till October 2005

Sofitel Magic Lagoon Khao Lak: Badly hit but responding professionally

Kamala Beach has been hard hit and the shattered Kamala Beach Resort is mute testament to the power of the water. The resort's marine frontage was hard hit. It expects to resume operation sometime in August, 2005. Beach activity is returning, albeit slowly.

 

The hillside Kamala Beach Estate is fine. Thavorn Beach Village & Spa (tel: [66-76] 290-334) The Thavorn Beach Village & Spa reopened after repairs and refurbishment on 15 March 2005 (www.thavornbeachvillage.com).

 

At the Le Méridien Phuket Beach Resort (www.meridien.phuket.com) all guests were "evacuated to safe areas and there were no casualties". According to general manager Philippe Seigle, "The third wave came almost right up to the elevated lobby". The swimming pools and recreational areas suffered damage as did the restaurants and public areas on the ground floor. The Le Meridien underwent a dramatic facelift and reopened 15 August 2005 with an intro rate of US$95++.

Inland and south coast resorts like Mangosteen, Cape Panwa (www.capepanwa.com),The Bay Hotel, and the sprawling Blue Canyon Country Club, escaped the force of the tsunami and continue to operate normally. The Hilton Phuket Arcadia Resort & Spa (www.phuketarcadia.hilton.com) on Karon Bay, just emerging from a multi-million dollar transformation – and a conventions powerhouse – is not affected. The Hilton was sheltered by the high embankment and raised road along much of Karon and adjoining beaches. Here flood waters failed to penetrate most resort areas. Marina Phuket Resort (www.marinaphuket.com) escaped damage (including to its beachside restaurant), and both Central Karon Village and Central Waterfront Suite were unharmed and are operating normally with easy access on all roads. www.centralhotelsresorts.com

 

Patong Beach 7 January, 2005 after huge clean-up. Moment of reflection.

Similarly unaffected are the chic new Twin Palms (www.twinpalms-phuket.com), set away from Surin Beach near The Chedi, the Phuket Orchid, Novotel Patong, Panwa Beach Resort, and the The Royal Phuket Yacht Club (www.theroyalphuketyachtclub.com). Twinpalms has reopened its Beach Club on Surin Beach (which escaped damage and is now apparently certified as a "no-casualty" beach). The Evason Phuket Resort (www.sixsenses.com/evason-phuket/index.php) escaped damage save to the jetty and says it is fully operational. Tropical Garden Resort and Serene Resort in Kata were not affected by the tsunami as the properties stand on higher ground. They report all restaurants and rooms are on line with electricity, water, and full service. Nearby, the Boathouse is closed for repair.

 

Also unaffected is the tucked-away Andaman White Beach Resort which had a miraculous escape. It is unscathed save for a damaged beach bar. According to general manager Luciano Lazzarin, "The wave changed direction at the last minute and approached us from the northwest reaching to the lip of the pool and lapping the underside of some beach front cottages." The water did not spill into the pool or affect the lower cottages. Fully operational are the Diamond Cottage Resort & Spa, Rydges Amora Beach Resort, Thara Patong, Deevana Patong Resort & Spa and Patong Lodge Hotel.

 

The spread-out Trisara Resort Phuket suffered minor damage to the pool but the clean-up is complete and no villas - all perched on higher ground - were affected. The pool, restaurant, bar and kitchen were all running normally when this correspondent visited first week of January 2005. Elsewhere, properties affected to a lesser or greater extent, include Kata Thani, Pearl Village, Banthai Beach and Club Med. In a separate development, unconnected to the tsunami, the new Crowne Plaza Karon Beach is open for business.

 

Phuket airport has been running normally for several months and, with some pick-up in business, international flights are coming back.

Amari Coral Beach, Phuket: Reopened

Useful telephone numbers: Bangkok Phuket Hospital [66-76] 254-429, Mission Hospital Phuket [66-76] 237-220, Patong Hospital [66-76] 344-225, Phuket International Hospital [66-76] 249-400, Ruan Paet Hospital [66-76] 211-578, Thalang Hospital [66-76] 311-033, Vachira Phuket Hospital [66-76] 217-294. Royal Thai Airforce help centre [66-2] 534-1702, Phuket call centre [66-76] 216-101, Ranong call centre [66-77] 813-401.

Useful Sites

The Phuket Gazette has posted a message board for those looking for missing persons at www.phuketgazette.com. A similar set-up is at www.phuketcity.com.

A very useful and comprehensive list of resorts in operation and out of commission in Phuket can be found at Phuket.Com while missing persons can be traced at www.csiphuket.com.

The smaller Phi Phi Le Island remains intact and the scenic Maya Bay, familiar to day-trippers, was not hit by the surge

Phi Phi

Phi Phi Island Village: 27 December 2004

The resort island of Phi Phi popularised in the movie The Beach is hard hit. The tourist areas on Phi Phi Don, the larger island, have been reduced to rubble. Volunteers continue to search for survivors and help clean up. All beachfront properties suffered extensive damage and most were simply swept away as the tsunami roared through the narrow, picturesque white-sand saddle separating two low hills. Inspections of outlying coral are underway to assess undersea damage.

According to Carmen Lam of InterContinental Hotels Group, “All the guests and staff at the Holiday Inn Resort Phi Phi Island, Thailand have been safely accounted for.” InterCon’s 24-hour emergency hotline is [61-2] 9935-8313. According to InterCon, "The Holiday Inn Resort Phi Phi Island has not sustained any damage to its buildings. The hotel is fully operational and is continuing to welcome guests." The Phi Phi Island Village was unaffected and is running normally. Says general manager Chaiyun Trisuwan, "The big wave came through Lodalum Bay and Tongsai Bay. It did not affect us as we were on the sheltered east side of Phi Phi Don." The water rose "two feet" but did not damage the Thai-style bungalows on stilts. According to Kitsana Kaewtumrong of the Tourism Authority of Thailand, the smaller Phi Phi Le Island remains largely intact and the scenic Maya Bay familiar to day-trippers was not hit by the surge.

 

 

Krabi, Phang Nga & Trang

Amari Trang Beach Resort idyll first week January 2005

As the surge progressed southwards, it left swathes of lower Krabi and Trang unscathed. Phulay Beach Krabi Aprime Resort general manager Heribert Gaksch reports that all his guests and staff are safe and “there is no damage to our property at all”. Tel: [66-75] 628-111 or hotel@phulaybeach.com

According to Amari Group spokeswoman Alex Constantine, while the Phuket property is being assessed, “all the other properties including Trang, are fine and did not suffer damage or disruption to any operations.” This includes the luxurious new Amari Trang Beach Resort (www.amari.com/trangbeach).

On Koh Lanta, the Pimalai Resort & Spa had damage to some beachfront villas and a beach restaurant. The Royal Lanta Resort is running despite minor disruptions and damage to the pool while the Twin Bay Resort is closed till late 2005.

According to general manager Greg Findlay, the Sheraton Krabi Beach Resort (www.sheraton.com) has "all facilities in operation including our pool and beaches". Krabi Airport is running normally. Tubkaak is unaffected. Rayavadee (www.rayavadee.com) suffered some sea-water damage to the beach fronting grounds which are currently being replanted. According to the group's Paul van Frank, "Rayavadee suffered no loss of life and only minor damage to the property... largely thanks to [its] sheltered location." The resort escaped largely unscathed and reopened in March, 2005.

 

The Racha (www.sanctuaryresorts.com) on Koh Racha is rebuilding its beach bungalows.

Useful telephone numbers: Krabi call centre [66-75] 611-302, 624-161/3, Phang Nga call centre [66-76] 411-525.

 

Khao Lak

Khaolak Merlin: Last one standing

Damage was most severe at the emerging rustic resort area of Khao Lak a one-hour 70km drive north of Phuket Airport. As far as the eye could see the coast had been flattened with resorts smashed and debris flung everywhere. Thai Princess Ubolratana Rajakanya lost her son Khun Poom Jensen here, and a coast guard ship, patrolling offshore for the royal family's protection, was flung hundreds of metres inland. At Khao Lak the tsunami's destruction has been complete and unequivocal. Most resorts, including Anantara Khao Lak (www.anantara.com), La Flora (www.sanctuaryresorts.com), Mukdara Khao Lak and Khao Lak Paradise were practically wiped out. La Flora is busy rebuilding and hopes to reopen shortly.

 

Khao Lak Resort and Khao Lak Seaview suffered damage to lower floors while, miraculously, the Khaolak Merlin Resort (tel: [66-76] 428-300, khaolakmerlin@merlinphuket.com) escaped with half the property and one large swimming pool, intact on a hill slope. The Merlin, or at least a large portion of it, remains operational. According to a hotel spokesperson, "Khaolak Merlin Resort is currently 70 percent operational. As many as 175 rooms along with two pools, the coffee shop, the health spa, the fitness centre, the lobby lounge, the ballroom and seminar room were NOT damaged. All pumping systems, pure water supply and electricity systems are operational." Farthest up the coast, the new Le Meridien Khao Lak suffered extensive damage to lower floors and villas. The Le Meridien Khao Lak opened October, 2005 with special promotional rates. The new rooms feature 42-inch plasma flat-screen televisions. The resort offers Wireless Broadband access and a spa.

 

Le Meridien Khao Lak: rebuilding

The Sofitel Magic Lagoon Resort & Spa Khao Lak is wrecked. This property suffered perhaps the most extensive losses in the area. Accor, the French hotel management group that runs Sofitel responded speedily with call centres in Paris (tel: [33-1] 4538-8484, 4538-8483), and Bangkok (tel: [66-2] 237-6064). Accor is assisting guests with "psychological and material aid, as well as helping with repatriation."

The charming 56-room boutique property The Sarojin, Khao Lak, has been renovated and reconstructed entirely and is also open for business..