A beach holiday in Phuket, Thailand is probably the last thing on people's mind, but the deputy governor of Phuket province insists that the situation on the beaches of Phuket is now returning to normal, and that most beaches are cleaned and safe to suntan and play on.

Phuket is Thailand's most important tourism destinations and Thai officials know that they have no time to lose if they want to avoid a huge loss in tourism revenue during the peak of the holiday season.

Since the tsunami waves hit Thailand on 26 December 2005, destroying whole parts of Phuket's coastline, officials in Thailand have been working round the clock to clear away the debris and cleanup the beaches, creating a strange illusion of normality and vacation on an island which still feels the aftermath of the Indian Ocean Tsunami.

Phuket Island's deputy governor, said that the very fast restoration of Patong beach, Kata-Karon and Kamala beaches would be the provincials New Year gift to local and foreign tourists. Holidaymakers, the deputy governor said, were now, four days after the Tsunami wave, able to use certain cleaned and restored parts of the beaches.

Local Phuket officials are insisting that despite the images of destruction which broadcast around the world, the province was not hit as badly as other areas such as Koh Phi Phi or Khao Lak.