2. Introduction
► Phuket Island is a stunning combination of golden beaches, turquoise
seas, green hills, mangroves and rainforest. Phuket lies in the Andaman
Sea surrounded by beautiful islets and to the northeast, the stunning
limestone outcrops of Phang Nga Bay.
► Add to this the friendly people, varied cuisine, tropical climate and range
of amenities and you have an ideal destination for a holiday or long term
stay.Phuket's wealth originally came from tin mining. The tin mining boom
started in the eighteenth century and brought a wave of migrants including
many Chinese to labour in the mines.
► Their descendants form a large chunk of today's population with 30
percent of Phuket Thais coming from Chinese descent. Many of the older
Chinese families in Phuket have gone on to be influential in Phuket's
business circles.
3. Demographics
► The residents of Phuket comprise Thais who have migrated from the
mainland, ethnic Chinese, Malays, and Chao Leh or ‘sea-gypsies’ who are
the original inhabitants of Phuket.
► According to the census, Thai-Buddhists account for 71% of the
population, with Malays (24%) and Chao Leh (4%) making up the
remainder.
► The figure for Thai-Buddhists also includes the Chinese who are almost
completely assimilated. Some estimates put the percentage of ethnic
Chinese at around 35%.
► The vast majority of the population resides in or around Phuket City and
Patong Beach, creating a population distribution along an east-west axis.
4. History
► The island’s surface area is mostly level land but is dotted with isolated
hills that reach a height of 1,700 feet (520 metres). It was settled as early
as the 1st century BCE.
► The island was part of various Tai states from an early time and was
incorporated into the Ayutthaya kingdom about the 16th century. After the
18th century large numbers of Chinese arrived, and more than half the
population is now Chinese. Called Ujong Salang (“Cape Salang”) by
Malays, the island has also been known as Tongka, Junk Ceylon, and
Jonsalam.Phuket is noted for its rich tin mines. The ore, found in lowland
gravels and on the shallow seafloor, is recovered by river and ocean boat
dredges and pumps.
► The island has also become a major seaside resort. It is reached by
bridge from the mainland to the north across a narrow strait. A road links
the major settlements of Thalang, Phuket, and Ban Rawai. In December
2004 the island was severely damaged by a large tsunami triggered by an
earthquake in the Indian Ocean near Indonesia.
5. Work culture environment
► Thailand being a land of eclectic cultures is no secret. But what might
come as a surprise to some is that every place within the country has its
own distinct culture that defines it. One can look at the culture of Phuket,
one of the most popular destinations in Thailand as well as the world, for
evidence of this. With arms wide open, Phuket beckons its visitors to
come immerse themselves in the land's customs of warm hospitality, rich
heritage and colourful traditions, which create an alluring atmosphere that
is hard not to fall in love with.
► The Big Buddha, one of the cultural landmarks of Phuket, overlooking the
province
6. Gender and diversity in Work place
► Diversity in the workplace in Thailand has become an important issue in
recent years, with businesses and governments recognizing the benefits
of promoting a diverse workforce.
► Thailand is no exception, and the Thai government has taken several
steps to encourage diversity in the workplace.In 2015, the government
passed the Gender Equality Act, which aims to eliminate gender-based
discrimination in the workplace and promote gender equality.
► The act requires employers to provide equal opportunities and treatment
for all employees, regardless of gender. This is a significant step towards
creating a more inclusive and diverse workforce in Thailand.
7. Business ethics
► Corporate social responsibility (CSR) is not a new concept, but it appears
to be a subject of increasing interest amongst academics and
practitioners.
► It is favoured by many as a philosophy and policy which benefits the
economy, society and environment based on the idea that companies
have wider responsibilities beyond commerce. Recognising and
exercising these obligations is often a challenging task with uncertainty
about appropriate forms of commitment, but the tourism industry would
seem to have particular and identifiable duties outside of the business
arena due to its very close relationship with destination environments and
societies which are facets of its products.
► This paper examines such issues of CSR within a tourism context, using
the example of the 2004 Indian Ocean tsunami and reactions of some of
the hotel firms operating in the Thai island of Phuket
