Phuket’s tourist evolution – Diversity is the best option Part 2

By The Thaiger

by Guest Writer

 

 

Our guest writer has been managing resorts around Phuket for two decades and has represented his brand at international expos along with promotions for Phuket over the years. His knowledge is first-hand and steeped in local experience. He has asked to remain anonymous.

 

Read Part 1 of the report HERE.

 

In Part 1 of the article we looked at the changes and evolution of Phuket’s tourist mix, the rise of the Russian market, then the Chinese and now the drop of both. So what can we do to continue to lure the Chinese travellers?

 

We need to learn about the Chinese market and guest’s expectations in order to be able to develop products, services and welcome them. You will see many hotels sending their sales teams regularly to China to the main line cities plus secondary cities to entice new business and to regain the confidence in our Phuket hotel products. In our case, when sales teams come back, they are expected to debrief the operation teams on Chinese guest expectations and the feedback from partners on how we can improve the service and products in place for our Chinese visitors. How many business do any research about their customers and what they actually want?

 

Here are some figures covering January to May in 2018 vs 2019 for the same period, about visitors to our resorts:

 

• Chinese guests, dropped 26.17%, year on year to date

• Russian guests, increased 22.99% year on year to date (this was a case of several tour operators consolidating their hotels to reduce inventory)

• South African guests, up 4.48% year on year to date.

• Australia and New Zealand combined, down 33.14% year on year to date (Phuket competes head to head with Bali and South

American islands.  Price is the key to any packaging as guests tend to look at great value packages, and the money saved is then on hand to use once they arrive at the destination!).

 

Full story: https://thethaiger.com/hot-news/tourism/phukets-tourist-evolution-diversity-is-the-best-option-part-2

 

 

-- © Copyright The Thaiger 2019-07-01

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"Australia and New Zealand combined, down 33.14% year on year to date (Phuket competes head to head with Bali and South American islands."

 

Huh? As in the islands off the coast of Chile?