Too Many Tourists In Phuket!

[george]

TAT urged to limit Phuket tourists

"Tourists destroy the island"

PHUKET: -- The Phuket Tourist Association has urged the Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) to limit the number of travellers to the island to a maximum of 5 million a year, due to a lack of hotel rooms and services.

Association president Maitree Narukatpichai, also director of the Hilton Phuket Arcadia Resort and Spa, said the island received almost 5 million international tourists last year, with more than 5 million expected this year.

As a result, the province faces having insufficient accommodation, tourism services and labour. He also warned of attractions and the environment being destroyed by tourists.

Maitree said the TAT should try to draw tourists of quality rather than in quantity, in order to preserve Phuket as a high-end destination.

"There are 30,000 hotel rooms in Phuket, with an average annual occupancy rate of 70 per cent and bringing in revenues of Bt70 billion a year. This should be enough for Phuket," said Maitree.

The island is expected to have 1,000 more rooms within the next few years, but most will be small boutique resorts with expensive rates.

Methee Tanmanatrakul, managing director of Holiday Villa Phuket, said Phuket could transform itself into a centre of tourism, spreading tourists into neighbouring areas like Krabi, Phang Nga and Koh Samui.

He suggested the TAT promote other destinations in the South rather than limit the number of tourists in Phuket, especially in the low season. The TAT should try to make tourists stay longer in the country.

Too many tourists in Phuket could cause security problems, particularly since the Bangkok bombings on New Year's Eve. "We're very concerned about tourists' safety, despite Phuket being free of bombings," said Methee.

Maitree said the government had provided 150 additional police in all tourist places and public areas in Phuket, in order to restore tourists' confidence, while operators were adding more security measures.

Association of Thai Travel Agents (ATTA) president Apichart Sankary said safety was the most important factor in keeping tourists coming to the Kingdom.

"If another bombing were to happen in a main tourist destination like Phuket, it would destroy the whole country," warned Apichart.

ATTA reported that since January 1, some tourists had cancelled their trips to Thailand, mostly from Asian markets like Malaysia, Singapore, China and Japan. However, Western tourists were still confirming their travel to Thailand after having paid for their trips earlier.

The Ministry of Tourism and Sports and the TAT held a meeting in Phuket yesterday to compile tourism strategies for Phuket and other destinations in the South.

Minister Suvit Yodmani said the government was trying to establish flight routes for Phuket with Ranong and Hat Yai. He also wanted to develop a community in Phuket - Maenam Dum village - as a home-stay destination.

Authorities said they would focus on higher-quality tourists this year. The ministry has a target of 14.8 million international tourists generating revenues of Bt547 billion, while domestic travel is expected to comprise 82 million trips and revenues of Bt377 billion.

The South is the key to success, because it features a variety of products with which to attract tourists from all over the world.

New TAT governor Pornsiri Manoharn said 13 million trips were made by tourists and locals into 14 provinces in the South last year, higher than the expected figure of 12 million. Revenues of Bt121 billion were higher than the original projection of Bt96 billion.

She said airlines like Dragon Air of Hong Kong and Air Macao were flying more tourists to Phuket.

--The Nation 2007-01-09

"High quality" tourists wanted

Tourism Minister affirms tourism targets

PHUKET CITY: -- Tourism and Sports Minister Dr Suwit Yodmanee yesterday affirmed the government’s national targets for 2007 of 14.8 million foreign tourists and 82 million Thai tourists, with earnings of 547,500 million baht and 377,800 million baht respectively.

Dr Suwit announced the targets at a meeting of about 280 government and private sector representatives from the 14 southern provinces at The Metropole hotel. Delegates included Governors, Vice-Governors, police, municipal and Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) officials, travel agents and tour operators.

The domestic tourism plan for the southern region this year is aimed at general tourists, youth and family, working and high-income people, seniors, and corporate travelers, while the foreign tourism marketing plan is aimed at “high quality free individual travelers” (FIT), families, sport groups and honeymoon couples, he said.

The main attractions for the region were outlined as sea, sand, diving, golf, seafood and health services, but the TAT will also promote other attractions, such as culture, sports and entertainment.

Dr Suwit said that the plan for 2007 was to target the niche market of “good quality, foreign tourists”.

He said, “To support the growth of tourism, we must consider upgrading tourism resources according to ‘star rating’ standards, but at the same time use the ‘green leaf’ standard to protect the environment.

“We will also promote sport to attract tourists; and most importantly, help local people and communities to take part in local tourism,” he added.

After the meeting, Dr Suwit said that the most urgent problem that local businesspeople and government agencies had notified him of was the lack of direct international flights to many popular tourist destinations in the southern provinces.

“I will have to talk to the Transportation Ministry to find a way to help tourism in the South, such as connecting flights between Bangkok, Phuket and Haad Yai, and flights to Phang Nga, Samui and Ranong, with international flights,” he said.

“We will also have to study the capacity of some tourism destinations such as Samui, to determine whether they can support the number of tourists and meet demand for electricity and water,” he said.

The decades’ old idea of an international convention center in Phuket was raised again. “Phuket has requested to build a convention center [here], which I think is important; therefore I will discuss it again with the Phuket Governor,” Dr Suwit said.

He concluded by highlighting government efforts in promoting domestic tourism and distributing tourism dollars to those still not benefiting from the tourism bonanza, while making efforts to protect the environment.

--Phuket Gazette 2007-01-09

[Francis Maube]

Not enough hotel rooms? Interesting. I happen to be staying in Phuket town for a while and the brand new hotel/service appartment we stay in is about 70% empty. Maybe it is just that one????

When it comes to damaging the environment, fair enough, the amount of plastic bags (and the rest) floating on the water are ever increasing but it might not be directly linked to the tourists

[Mid]

what a load of bullocks ....................

bet the figures are totally inaccurate , they need to define the types of beds ( 5 star resorts / guest house )

smells of a misguided attempt to raise the snob value

[ray23]

TT ( tis Thailand) same old story send your money on vacation and stay home.

[Kaojai]

what a load of bullocks ....................

bet the figures are totally inaccurate

Based on what?

If you have more accurate figures, why not share them and cite the source.

Or is this another farang fairy tale?

, they need to define the types of beds ( 5 star resorts / guest house )

smells of a misguided attempt to raise the snob value

Yes, far better to promote more backpackers and patrons of the bar-beer type of establishment.

One family of high spenders generates more income and more employment than a whole lot of the free spirits who spend B100 a day on MacDonald's fare and some cheap room or are permanently attached to a bar stool intent on getting puking drunk.

[sonnyJ]

Yeah, be a High Quality Tourist and tip the lazy ass tuktuk driver atleast 100 THB every time he don't try to kill you and/or when he don't try to rip you off more than before.

[jbsears]

Was just on Patong the week of New Years and it was definatily overpacked. Took us about an hour to find a place to stay and saw many others with the same problem. This was the first time I've seen so many people there. Then again it was my first time during the peak of all peak times. I usually go during non-peak times and I can always find a place no problem. Just depends on when you go.

[massein]

Gee wonder if My wife and I would be exceptable to the establishment of TAT

wouldn't want to offend Thai Puyai.

[cdnvic]

If you want high quality visitors you need to clean the place up. Phuket's commercial centres look dirty and ugly. The tuk-tuk cartel and other annoyances don't help either.

[Mid]

what a load of bullocks ....................

bet the figures are totally inaccurate

Based on what? Too lazy to cite , try 1/2 hr on goggle

If you have more accurate figures, why not share them and cite the source.

Or is this another farang fairy tale?

, they need to define the types of beds ( 5 star resorts / guest house )

smells of a misguided attempt to raise the snob value

Yes, far better to promote more backpackers and patrons of the bar-beer type of establishment.

One family of high spenders generates more income and more employment than a whole lot of the free spirits who spend B100 a day on MacDonald's fare and some cheap room or are permanently attached to a bar stool intent on getting puking drunk.Even if true , problem is that there little to no trickle down into the local economy

and you work for which resort ?

[OlRedEyes]

Aaaaahhhh.... My personal Favourite! The Upmarket High Quality Tourist (Destination).

[LaoPo]

http://www.tatnews.org/latest_update/detail.asp?id=3220

Annual analysis of visitor arrival figures for 2005 in global terms puts the UK and Ireland in sixth place after Malaysia (1,342,988), Japan (1,188,871), Korea (816,501), Singapore (797,782), China (767,782) with some 735,000 visitors to Thailand during 2005. It is interesting to note the UK/Ireland alone produces more visitor arrivals than both the second and third biggest markets in Europe – Germany (2nd) and France (3rd) combined visitor arrivals to Thailand for 2005 totalled 706,827.

Between January – October 2006, visitor arrivals at Bangkok International Airport totalled 7,922,231*, up 15.97% over the same period of 2005. European arrivals were up 17.78 per cent to 2,099,159 while the UK remains the top source of arrivals from Europe, up by 7.96 per cent to 540,401.

*Visitors, arriving by sea and land, as well as arriving from other countries to other airports than Bangkok** have to be added, but still ....5 MILLION to Phuket?

**As 80% of all visitor arrivals to Thailand enter through Bangkok...

** http://www.tatnews.org/tat_release/detail.asp?id=3106

http://www.tatnews.org/tat_release/detail.asp?id=3116

Visitor arrivals to Thailand totalled 11.5 million in 2005, generating a total of US$ 9.13 billion, or an average of US$ 96.72 per person per day. This ranged from US$ 120 daily expenditure by visitors from Kuwait to US$ 79 spent by visitors from Lao PDR.

http://www.tatnews.org/tat_release/detail.asp?id=3106

Dr Suvit noted that the U.K. is one of the top sources of visitor arrivals for Thailand and will play a critical role in helping to achieve a target of 13.80 million international arrivals in 2006 and 15 million in 2007.

LaoPo

[Mid]

5 MILLION to Phuket?

jing Khup , jing jing

edit to insert quote ,

Edited January 10, 2007 by Mid

[Canadian-Jesse]

what a load of bullocks ....................

bet the figures are totally inaccurate

Based on what?

If you have more accurate figures, why not share them and cite the source.

Or is this another farang fairy tale?

, they need to define the types of beds ( 5 star resorts / guest house )

smells of a misguided attempt to raise the snob value

Yes, far better to promote more backpackers and patrons of the bar-beer type of establishment.

One family of high spenders generates more income and more employment than a whole lot of the free spirits who spend B100 a day on MacDonald's fare and some cheap room or are permanently attached to a bar stool intent on getting puking drunk.

Haha you weiner!

Yea how 'bout we bring in more middle-aged men to boost the already thriving "mistress of the night" industry

100b a day on Rotton Ronnies AND accomodation?! This is Phuket we're talking about... for one any sort of meal at McDicks will run you over 100b... the cheapest place I could find in Patong Beach was this hotel type establishment that was relatively empty in early December last year... it cost us 250b a night each for 7 of us for two family rooms. It was a nice place though

[fxe1200]

I remember encircling the fish with local fishermen and woman with a huge net at Kata Beach, then concelebrating the catch with a lot of food and beer and a doobie or two. Those were the days. Today you can invite me to Phuket, all expenses paid. I would not go.

[khunmarc]

TAT urged to limit Phuket tourists

"Tourists destroy the island"

PHUKET: --Methee Tanmanatrakul, managing director of Holiday Villa Phuket, said Phuket could transform itself into a centre of tourism, spreading tourists into neighbouring areas like Krabi, Phang Nga and Koh Samui.

what a plan!!!!

disposable tourist culture :you done with one line up the next to overrun. this guy probably havent noticed Samui is already overrun and trashed out and krabi isnt far behind just the take out plastic bag culture alone has done it

I guess they havent noticed yet plastic isnt as eco friendly as banana leaves

[pepsi666]

Before they get 'high end' toursists, it would be a good idea to clean the place up, last (and only ) time I was there it was a tip, dirty, smelly, bins overflowing (when there was a bin) old wrecks down side streets, dilapidated buildings, hotel in need of a touch of paint, and refurbishment

We were pounced on by cab drivers everywhere, even when we just got out of one

I consider my self one of these high end tourists they are speaking about, I usually spend about 7-800 quid on accomadation, not sure about how much I spend on tips, taxis, tuk tuks, normally spend about a £1000 while there on bits and bobs, might have a few Tbts left at the endof it

All in all I reckon I spent about £2500, that includes, airfare to and from BKK and to and from Phuket, and money while in Phuket, I suppose to some it may not be enough, but I thought it was more than enough in a place that I thought was dirty, in dire need of a clean up, the locals should have a more of a smile (while ripping me off)hotel staff that are surly, 2nd rate resturrants

I wont return there until its cleaned up a lot (which I cant see happening)

I have friends who run 2 bars there and I cant understand the attrction for them (there are JUST too many bars and the competition is hard)

There are a lot nicer places in the LOS that I prefer, so this is one tourist they wont have to worry about visiting there

and before any one decides to flame me, I have been to Chang Mai, Chang Rai, Hua Hin, Mae Hon Son, Koh Samui,Phukett, Koh Larn, Pattaya, Bangkok (another cesspit) and I was with the Royal Thai army when I was with the UK forces, and I find my self returning to some of these places even more, but Phukett, never again

[Mid]

I guess they havent noticed yet plastic isnt as eco friendly as banana leaves

sad , ain't it , been singing that song for 10 yrs myself

[cutter007]

I am confused wasn't it just a little while ago they were talking about what bad shape Phuket was in because of the tsunami and tourism being in the gutter. And now they are saying they have too many and they want to limit them.

What can you expect though, this guy probably plays golf with the Finance minister who is advising him on how to flip flop your stance every 90 days or so.............

Silly rabbit Tricks are for kids

[jetz]

I am confused wasn't it just a little while ago they were talking about what bad shape Phuket was in because of the tsunami and tourism being in the gutter. And now they are saying they have too many and they want to limit them.

What can you expect though, this guy probably plays golf with the Finance minister who is advising him on how to flip flop your stance every 90 days or so.............

Silly rabbit Tricks are for kids

Are they not running by kid's rule now???

[DrDweeb]

Before they get 'high end' toursists, it would be a good idea to clean the place up, last (and only ) time I was there it was a tip, dirty, smelly, bins overflowing (when there was a bin) old wrecks down side streets, dilapidated buildings, hotel in need of a touch of paint, and refurbishment

We were pounced on by cab drivers everywhere, even when we just got out of one

I consider my self one of these high end tourists they are speaking about, I usually spend about 7-800 quid on accomadation, not sure about how much I spend on tips, taxis, tuk tuks, normally spend about a £1000 while there on bits and bobs, might have a few Tbts left at the endof it

All in all I reckon I spent about £2500, that includes, airfare to and from BKK and to and from Phuket, and money while in Phuket, I suppose to some it may not be enough, but I thought it was more than enough in a place that I thought was dirty, in dire need of a clean up, the locals should have a more of a smile (while ripping me off)hotel staff that are surly, 2nd rate resturrants

I wont return there until its cleaned up a lot (which I cant see happening)

I have friends who run 2 bars there and I cant understand the attrction for them (there are JUST too many bars and the competition is hard)

There are a lot nicer places in the LOS that I prefer, so this is one tourist they wont have to worry about visiting there

and before any one decides to flame me, I have been to Chang Mai, Chang Rai, Hua Hin, Mae Hon Son, Koh Samui,Phukett, Koh Larn, Pattaya, Bangkok (another cesspit) and I was with the Royal Thai army when I was with the UK forces, and I find my self returning to some of these places even more, but Phukett, never again

You know - you sound so bitter - what happenned to you there ? Leave your heart?

Phuket is nice once you get off the Patong strip - plenty to do and see and nice beaches - also the small out of the way ones.

That being said, I have never been there at rush-hour - I may change my mind next !

Dr. Dweeb

[capt_canada42]

I guess they havent noticed yet plastic isnt as eco friendly as banana leaves

sad , ain't it , been singing that song for 10 yrs myself

Yes its sad in the old days here everything was biodegradable they wrapped everything in leaves and they used wicker baskets to carry everything,,,,,,,and then the plastic bags came,,,,,,,,,,,,, litter every where as people weren't used to dealing with disposing things that don't decompose,,,,,,,,,, worse yet was the smell of burning plastic,,,,,,,,,,,, in dry season the Phuket would fill up with trash,,,,,,,,,,,,,,god i was happy when monsoon came and the green jungle would over grow everything and the plastic would disappear,,,,,,

but cut back the growth and there it still is.

[falux]

I did a business trip to Phuket, and I really, really want to know what is good about hearing "Tuk Tuk" a million times a day, then you go to the beach where some Thais have forgotten how to cook Thai food, but your fat, half naked foreign table neighbours don't care. I would not pay more than 0 (zero) baht to see that shitplace ever again.

[LPCustom69]

Just another example of how Thailand does not want the "average" westerner here. They want the quality tourist, the rich tourist. And they sure don't want average westerners living here. Once all of the dust settles, the average westerner won't want to be here. I think that they will continue to make things difficult for those of us who want to be here.

[sonnyJ]

So Stepenwolf, you know this guy by name right? I'd like to know more please.

[capt_canada42]

I guess they havent noticed yet plastic isnt as eco friendly as banana leaves

sad , ain't it , been singing that song for 10 yrs myself

Yes its sad in the old days here everything was biodegradable they wrapped everything in leaves and they used wicker baskets to carry everything,,,,,,,and then the plastic bags came,,,,,,,,,,,,, litter every where as people weren't used to dealing with disposing things that don't decompose,,,,,,,,,, worse yet was the smell of burning plastic,,,,,,,,,,,, in dry season the Phuket would fill up with trash,,,,,,,,,,,,,,god i was happy when monsoon came and the green jungle would over grow everything and the plastic would disappear,,,,,,

but cut back the growth and there it still is.

I have lived here a long time and watched it go through a lot of changes,,,,,,,,in the old days back packers every where,,,,,,,,,,single men looking for companionship,,,,,,,then the push for higher end tourists,,,,,,,, and now the retirement crowd and families with their children,,,,,,,,and people looking for companionship and a nice place to live.

I have watched Phuket go through a lot of changes but I still love the place because you can go any where on the island and escape what ever you want to escape, the jungle here is beautiful and the sea marvelous you can swim out to the islands if you want to.

Phung Ngha Bay is one of the 7 wonders of the world and you can access and live on it on the eastern side of the island. If you want to be away from people on any part of the island you can just walk up to the hills and the jungle and never see a person all day.

So for me Phuket is still wonderful I don't mind sharing it with others as i know how to live here and I learned a long time ago how to be at peace with myself

[sonthaya]

Just tell me, how stupid can they get, I know TIT, but this is going too far.

[cdnvic]

Just tell me, how stupid can they get, I know TIT, but this is going too far.

We went through this before a couple years ago when Thailand was on the verge of being a first world country so they let it be known they only wanted rich people walking the crumbling sidewalks, which was plausible as a million of them were going to pay $30,000 for a piece of plastic that gave them a special line at immigration and the right to purchase land for the Thai holding company who ran the card scheme.

[pap]

what a load of bullocks ....................

bet the figures are totally inaccurate

Based on what?

If you have more accurate figures, why not share them and cite the source.

Or is this another farang fairy tale?

, they need to define the types of beds ( 5 star resorts / guest house )

smells of a misguided attempt to raise the snob value

Yes, far better to promote more backpackers and patrons of the bar-beer type of establishment.

One family of high spenders generates more income and more employment than a whole lot of the free spirits who spend B100 a day on MacDonald's fare and some cheap room or are permanently attached to a bar stool intent on getting puking drunk.

"based on what?" Personal experiences possibly?

And because those numbers are posted on the internet they are accurate? I have stayed on Phuket in all kinds of establishments for extended periods of time. You want to use the numbers they have provided you to make their case go ahead.

You know what I have noticed. The pollution and plastic bags don't come from the tourists. Thats first hand experience and I don't really care who publishes what number on the internet. Most Thais have not adobted the environmental movement yet. This will take time, just as it did for other countries further down the curve.

Its one thing to do things that make monetary sense. Its another to throw up your hands and say we can't fix our own problems so lets toss out this idea that really solves nothing. There are a lot of better plans like paying a couple of people to pick up the garbage.

I have never been to phuket and not found a "NICE" hotel room within the first 20 minutes of being in town on any side of the Island. Just as an FYI many Thais could not afford to go to phuket if all the cheap hotels went away. That would be sad.

Mai bpen rai. I guess.

[ramidin]

Was in Phuket in November.

How can you attract 'high end tourists', when you can't walk along the street for being pestered by 'tuk tuk, suit for you, massage' and everything priced at absolute rip off gouge prices.

Walk along the beach 'jet ski sir, parasail, blah blah blah'.

People who want to stay in 5 star resorts, want QUIET. (At least I do). As for the chap who spent GBP2500 (THB 170,000) on a short holiday that is a chunk, when most of the perpetual tourists are living on GBP200-300 a month.

Crap food (overpriced) , crap hotel that cost 3,500 baht per night (elsewhere would pay no more than 1,500 baht, dirty streets, pestered everywhere I went, ripped of by taxis and tuk tuksthen when I wanted to rent a car they want to take your passport - YEAH RIGHT (even when the law says you have to carry it at all times).

3 days in Phuket (live Bangkok) for me and GF including flights, accom, transport and food cost me THB 50,000 - I can go almost anywhere else in Asia for a short break for that - which is what I will do next time!

Sorry, Phuket, you have a LONG way to go, I certainly will not be back for a long time.