Theme-park ‘tsunami’ criticised as insensitive

SYDNEY - Plans to create a tourist attraction in Thailand featuring a Universal Studio-style simulated tidal wave were yesterday labelled inappropriate by the family of a Sydney man killed in the tsunami disaster.

Fiona Nott, the sister of 34-year-old Christian Nott, who was killed while holidaying with his wife Moi Vogel at Khao Lak in Thailand, said the Thai Government's plans to create the simulated tsunami attraction as part of a memorial museum were insensitive.

"I understand they need to rebuild their communities and economy but to build something like that is not very appropriate," she said.

Tourism Authority of Thailand governor Juthamas Siriwan, speaking on behalf of the Prime Minister, told an international delegation about large-scale plans to re-market the region to foreign and local tourists.

Authorities would open a tsunami memorial museum complete with a simulated tidal wave in Khao Lak, the region made infamous by post-tsunami photos of bodies and debris floating in the water.

"It would firstly educate everyone who comes to Phuket to make them aware of how these kinds of things happen," Siriwan told reporters at a conference on the island.

"We would also ... like to [use technology] to make the museum more attractive and interesting by making a simulation of a tidal wave.

"I talked to the architect and they say they are going to make something like that so maybe this will be the next Universal Studios of the tsunamis in Khao Lak."

While Nott supported any initiative to educate visitors, she was surprised by the plan to cash in on the tourist dollar.

"If it's a theme-park kind of attraction, then that's just pretty out there."

Siriwan said the region would be remade as an exclusive beach resort for the wealthy.

Authorities have spent US$4 million ($5.6 million) on proving to 1000 media and travel agents that the nation has recovered following the Boxing Day earthquake and tsunami in the Indian Ocean.

Phuket's famous Patong Beach - now stripped of its beachfront shops - was thrown open for a beach bash to show that the island is ready to move on.

"The Government will concentrate on making Khao Lak even better than before," Siriwan said.

Patong would be redesigned as a "modern beach city", with hotels and shops no longer on the beachfront.

"We don't want to repeat the same mistakes again," she said.

Kamala beach, a badly damaged strip of coast neighbouring Patong, will be developed into a traditional culture hub, while Phi Phi Island, largely wiped out by the wave, would be returned to a "paradise island for relaxing".

A tsunami early warning system based on marine monitoring would be in place this month and lifeguards would be installed on all tourist beaches.

- AAP