By KWANCHAI RUNGFAPAISARN
THE NATION
Published on July 6, 2010

The Phuket International Academy Sports and Leisure Club is expected to usher in a new dimension of sports tourism to the resort island with world-class facilities when it opens in November.

“The development of the fully-integrated complex reflects the founders’ vision in bringing a positive learning environment for the whole family and bringing a whole new level of what is available in Phuket,” CEO Nicholas Seaver said yesterday.

“It will cooperate with the Tourism Authority of Thailand in promoting sports tourism in the country,” he said.

As activities can be hosted all year round, tourism in Phuket will be less sensitive to the economic cycle, he said.

Phuket International Academy owns the US$45 million (Bt1.5 billion) complex, of which half of its 130 rai of space is allocated to the clubhouse.The complex, the largest of its kind in Southeast Asia, offers three major facilities -the club, an international baccalaureate world school and a mind centre. The centre contains a 38-room boutique and lifestyle hotel and facilities to host conferences and retreats dedicated to bringing together ancient, contemplative practices with the best of modern psychology for improving a balanced and healthy mind.

The complex was developed by a group of Thais and Klaus Hebben, a foreign investor who has been in Phuket for four years. It will serve both locals and tourists. “What we are doing is bring?ing a whole new dimension of tourism to Phuket that many hotels will benefit from,” Seaver said.

“We also try to create a very positive and friendly working environment. The complex will offer a family-friendly environment with a unique range of offerings,” he said. The international school, which occupies about 50 rai of land, has already been open for two years, while the mind centre has been open since April. From 76 students now, it expects enrolment to grow to 700 in five years.

The club has selected the prestigious World Sports Destination Expo, running at the Sandton Convention Centre in Johannesburg, South Africa from today to Friday, as the global event to launch itself to the world as a premier sports and corporate eventfacility in Thailand.

The club boasts an extensive array of high-class sporting facilities including an International Rugby Board-standard rugby pitch, FIFA-approved Limonta “Soccer-Pro” soccer field, Phuket’s only competition standard 25-metre and 50-metre swimming pools, a six-court tennis academy, a 500-metre athletics running track and a StarTrac-equipped hi-tech gymnasium. A dedicated arts centre and a Thai herbal garden spa are also included to compliment the sports facilities.

“All those sports and leisure facilities are international standard and allow us to host professional athletes and teams as well as provide on-parallel facilities for Phuket residents and amateur athletes seeking to continue their training,” he said.