Phuket expecting 5 – 7 percent increase in high-season tourists

Russia presents a remarkable recovery story, leading to an expectation that this coming season would see even stronger numbers, says Anthony, who is also Managing Director and General Manager of Trisara Hotel in Phuket.

By Phuket Gazette & The Nation

 

Phuket Hotels Association President Anthony Lark

 

The Phuket Hotels Association is expecting the number of international direct passenger arrivals at Phuket International Airport for the high season of 2017 to 2018 to increase by between 5 per cent and 7 per cent year year-on-year. This, according to Association President Anthony Lark.

 

The latest figures show that from January to April this year, the number of international direct passenger arrivals at Phuket airport was 1,690,890 – up 5 per cent over the same period last year, according to data from Airports of Thailand and C9 Hotelworks.

 

The top five geographic sources of customers between January and April 2017 were Mainland China (582,339), Russia (257,311), South Korea (84,734), Australia (77,689) and the UK (59,517).

 

Full story: https://www.phuketgazette.net/news/phuket-expecting-5-7-percent-increase-high-season-tourists

 

-- © Copyright Phuket Gazette 2017-09-25

A couple of Chinese language posts have been removed, forum is still all English despite the  topic title 

TV should consider Chinese language posts since their numbers are greater than and rising faster than the rest of us.

Apparently, 5-7% more!

This prediction is almost as trustworthy as the government's: there will be no floods during this year's monsoon season. Is he eyeing a job with the TAT?

31 minutes ago, Lupatria said:

This prediction is almost as trustworthy as the government's: there will be no floods during this year's monsoon season. Is he eyeing a job with the TAT?

So at the risk of being flamed ... if the figures are true that the first half of the year arrivals are up (which I assume is easily tracked) why isn't the prediction trustworthy?  Might not be a lot more US/UK/EU tourists, but when I was in Phuket last week it certainly was packed with EU and Chinese folks.  

8 minutes ago, kurtmartens said:

... when I was in Phuket last week it certainly was packed with EU and Chinese folks.  

I was out Saturday 16th in the evening (1830) for a buffet at a hotel in the most popular area of the island and the whole area seemed quiet.

 

Not saying the numbers are wrong but i sometimes get suspicious when i see a huge gap between reported things and the stories of people working and living there.

Dream on..... you TAT authorities are in ga gaaa land.

Thailand was the place to be once Now better places to go to. Dont help when the government is so anti-farang. Keep up the good work soon you will have nobody

Remember lads, 5 and 7 for the next lottery. 

I expect all my co-workers here in the USA to give me $14,000 tax free gift checks.

Maybe it's going up because Phuket will get more tourists from Pattaya's new non-drinking on the beach law?

Well If the volcano in Bali goes Pompeii then who knows!!

15 hours ago, Bob12345 said:

get suspicious when i see a huge gap between reported things and the stories of people working and living there.

I agree.  As I said when I was out and around last week it certainly seemed jammed pack and it was the middle of the week; but I don't live on Phuket, so perhaps a fluke.

Brits up 10%? That's the stat that's hard to believe. But these are figures only for those arriving on direct international flights so anyone transiting in Bangkok isn't included.