The Paradorn Super Tour 2003 was the second year of the event. The tour encompassed Nakhon Ratchasima, Khon Kaen, Chiang Mai and, finally, Phuket. Fans witnessed two of the world’s top players joining Paradorn in a star-studded exhibition of great tennis. Marcelo Rios (former world number-one), from Chile, and American Taylor Dent (Thailand Open champion) brought glamour and excitement to Phuket and, along with home-grown star Tamarine and upcoming ladies talent Chuang Chia-Jung from Taiwan.

The Phuket event, hosted by Laguna Phuket, received considerable coverage in the Thai media, with Channel 3 filming many of the games live. While some may argue it never did reach an international audience, it did bring international stars to the Kingdom. And, if the two days in Phuket were typical of other stops on the Tour, many international visitors packed the stadiums. Anna Kournakova also played an exhibition match in Pattaya, Thailand, against Tamarine in November 2003, and is serving as the TAT’s latest ambassador. The appearance of such international sporting personalities helps to boost the image of local sporting heroes and of sports as a whole. And it pushes Thailand even further into the international sporting limelight.

The coming of the Paradorn Super Tour 2003 to Phuket was very appropriate. The idea of making Phuket an international sports destination, a place where international athletes can come and train while getting away from pressures back home, has been in the wind for some time.

Phuket is already a great success as a recreational getaway, as three million visitors a year will agree. But does Thailand’s largest island have the facilities to become an international sporting destination? This is something Phuket’s innovative Governor Udomsak Usawarangkura is set on ensuring. He recently proposed a sports complex for the northern end of the island with the aim of encouraging sports tourism. In an earlier issue of Phuket Magazine, he was quoted as saying, "In the future, Phuket should have a large area of land for foreigners who want to leave their home countries during winter to practice their sports in [a warm climate]. Many people have suggested this idea to me. The area in Tah Chat Chai would be ideal for a sports complex because we have many five-star hotels close by."

Asked for his thoughts on the matter, Thai tennis superstar Paradorn says, "Phuket is a great place for a holiday. It is a lot of fun. It also has good facilities and can develop." In terms of a great place to come and play, American Taylor Dent can only agree: "It is so much fun playing here. The crowd were a lot of fun to play in front of. And when someone is having fun, they are playing their best tennis."

Aside from fun, what else does Phuket have to offer? Hotels and resorts are available in abundance, and the international airport expanding soon to cope with larger jets more passengers. Hospitals and health care meet international standards, and the international schools provide top-class education. The island has an ever-more cosmopolitan feel, as the number of both foreign visitors and long-term foreign residents grows apace.

All this would seem to support Governor Udomsak’s grand plans. Phuket has seen a number of changes in visitor-profile over the years. From its roots as a backpacker hang-out, Phuket has developed into an international-class destination. Its beauty, to many, lies in its diversity. With room rates ranging from a few US dollars per night to US$1,000-plus, and activities ranging from diving to sailing to elephant trekking, shopping and sunbathing, there’s something for everyone on the island.

What sports facilities currently exist on Phuket? A number of hotels offer open-air tennis courts, most have swimming pools and gyms, and a few have indoor squash courts. Outdoor pitches for football and similar sports can be found around the island, and the roads are great for cycling and running, with scenic inland tracks for mountain biking. All in all, there’s plenty to keep the avid sports enthusiast busy. And, for the professional athlete, adequate facilities are generally available to ensure you don’t miss out on training while on "holiday".

With event organizers such as Media Serv and Bec-Tero Entertainment in Bangkok (they handled the Paradorn Super Tour 2003) and an increasing number of event organizers on Phuket itself, Phuket’s international sporting calendar continues to fill up. Current international sports events held on the island include the Phuket King’s Cup Regatta, Laguna Phuket Triathlon, Phuket International Sportsfishing Classic, Phang Nga Bay Regatta, Andaman Sea Rally and the Gaelic Games. New events for 2004 include the Phuket Race Week (sailing) and the Asian Teams Cup (volleyball), and there are probably many more in the planning.

Of course, there’s also the Paradorn Super Tour 2004. When asked whether the tour would return to Phuket in 2004, Paradorn replies, rather coyly: "We have had a great time, and it has been a great success. I need to check my schedule for next year. But I’d love to come back."

Note: After travelling around the country for 10 days and playing in 4 provinces, Paradorn finished the Tour without a win. Taylor Dent took the title with 4 successive victories — two against Paradorn, and one each against Marcelo Rios and stand-in Australian Andrew Kratzmann.