He said there is strong demand from Russians, Chinese, Eastern Europeans and North Americans seeking long stays in Phuket. WEAK STRUCTUREDespite booming private development, Phuket still lacks sufficient public infrastructure, as existing services have not caught up with the island's fast growth. "Phuket is no longer dependent on tourism, and that's probably a good thing, but we need infrastructure," Ms Prakaipeth said. Locals are awaiting airport development, as demand at Phuket airport outstrips capacity. "The government should support medical and wellness tourism in other provinces to boost the local economy," said Mr Kriengkrai.
