- Phuket officially launched City Lab Phuket on 9 June 2026, creating a collaborative platform to test and develop innovative mobility solutions for a low-carbon future.
- The Hub-to-School Service connects public transport hubs with schools through electric shuttle services, helping reduce traffic congestion, emissions and private vehicle dependency.
- Supported by GIZ Thailand through the TGC EMC project and local partners, the initiative serves as a real-world urban mobility laboratory and a scalable model for sustainable transport solutions across Thailand.
On 9 June 2026, Phuket Province officially launched City Lab Phuket, a collaborative platform designed to test, develop and evaluate innovative mobility solutions that support the transition towards a low-carbon and more sustainable urban future. This initiative is supported by GIZ Thailand through the Thai-German Cooperation on Energy, Mobility and Climate (TGC EMC) project, together with its partners.
The opening event brought together representatives from Phuket Province, local government agencies, educational institutions, public transport operators, civil society organisations and development partners. Participants shared a common vision of advancing a transport system that is clean, safe, accessible and inclusive, while supporting Phuket’s long-term ambition to become a sustainable and internationally competitive tourism city.
One of the first pilot initiatives under City Lab Phuket is the Hub-to-School Service, which connects key transport hubs with schools through the electric school shuttle services. The pilot has been designed to address one of the city’s recurring transport challenges: the large number of private vehicles used for school drop-offs and pick-ups during peak hours.
The pilot currently operates two routes serving Kathu and Ko Kaew, providing convenient access for students, parents and families. The service will operate throughout one academic term until 30 September 2026 and is free of charge during the pilot phase. This trial period will enable project partners to collect operational data, assess user experience and identify opportunities for further improvement before considering future expansion.
Another key innovation, showcased during the launch, is the Smart Bus Stop as a part of City Lab Phuket, an intelligent public transport information system and display designed to improve the user experience of public transport services. The Smart Bus Stop with digital signage provides real-time information on bus arrival times, routes and service updates, enabling residents, students and tourists to make more informed travel decisions. By reducing uncertainty and improving reliability, the system helps make public transport a more attractive and convenient option for daily travel.
The Smart Bus Stop Signage is connected via GPS data from public transport vehicles across the province to a digital information platform. Through this integration, users can access accurate and up-to-date travel information, reducing waiting times and making public transport journeys more predictable and efficient.
The initiative is the result of collaboration among Phuket Province, the Office of Transport and Traffic Policy and Planning (OTP), the Phuket Provincial Administrative Organisation, Phuket Municipality, public transport operators and educational institutions under the framework of the TGC EMC project on sustainable transport. GIZ Thailand provides technical expertise, capacity development and opportunities for knowledge exchange to support the development of low-carbon mobility systems that are tailored to the Thai urban context.
The launch of City Lab Phuket is therefore more than a pilot electric bus service. It serves as a testing ground for an integrated mobility ecosystem that brings together public transport services, digital technologies, real-time data and collaboration among public authorities, private sector partners and citizens. If the pilot project outcome is successful, the approaches and solutions tested through City Lab Phuket can be adapted and replicated in other areas of the province and in cities across Thailand.
