The National Economic and Social Development Board has backed a resolution for the development of the Ao Phuket Project and has ordered a study into similar projects in the UAE. Over 3,200 rai land will be reclaimed from the sea in order to create two main areas of construction; The MICE sector (for Meetings, Incentives, Conventions and Exhibitions) and a Marina development.

Also included in the project will be meeting room centres, offices, hotels, shops, restaurants and a hospital as well as sea view residential units, a port and a dock. Phuket Governor Udomsak has stressed that any development around Ao Phuket needed to strongly reflect the aesthetics of the area.

It is hoped that the project will be fully complete by the end of 2008.