Phuket tops list as World’s Most Overcrowded tourist destination

[webfact]

 

… and there are two other Thai locations in second and third place too.

 

If you’re dreaming of pristine beaches, delectable street food, hundreds of fine dining options and unique Thai cultural attractions, Phuket would certainly be on your travel radar. But Phuket’s popularity has earned it the title of the world’s most overcrowded tourist destination.

 

A recent study conducted by MoneyTransfers.com has unveiled a list of the world’s top 10 most overcrowded tourist spots. Despite its breathtaking coastlines and many idyllic islands, Phuket, a relatively small island, finds itself struggling with a resurgence of tourists and a return of Thais seeking work.

 

According to the study, Phuket bears the brunt of overcrowding, with a staggering ratio of 118 tourists for every local resident. This eye-popping statistic underscores the island’s pressing issue of “overtourism” plaguing the island province.

 

By Peter Roche

 

Full story: PhuketGO 2023-09-27

 

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[bob smith]

...yet another reason not to go there.

 

 

[thaibeachlovers]

3 minutes ago, bob smith said:

...yet another reason not to go there.

 

 

It was a <deleted> destination years ago, and that movie just made a bad situation worse.

Last time I went was after the tsunami to see for myself, and I got a great deal on an hotel.

They were just building the same <deleted><deleted> as before the tsunami and likewise on Phi Phi, so never went back to either places.

[jaywalker2]

And the government's brilliant plan is to draw in even more tourists. Keep the people busy with those low wages jobs so they're busy ripping off tourists instead of complaining about the government!

[harada]

The end result of out of control greed. ☹️

[Khun Loong]

Completely trashed island full of the lowest of tourists. But still good to have it as at least they congregate then and Pattaya. 

[LudwigK]

When will it get the new name:   RUSSIA Island 

[PaDavid]

The top 5 are:

 

1. Phuket, Thailand
2. Pattaya, Thailand
3. Krabi, Thailand
4. Mugla, Turkey
5. Hurghada, Turkey

1. Muğla (No 4) is a province (and provincial city) in Turkey. The city is inland and is fairly unremarkable. It certainly is not high on anyone’s list of places to visit. The province includes many resorts: Bodrum, Fetiyhe, and Marmaris are the larger ones, but there are dozens of other places dotted around the Muğla coastline many of which receive few tourists. .

 

2. Hurghada (No 5) is in Egypt, not Turkey. 
 

It makes you wonder how seriously you can take the report. 

[Irish star]

6 minutes ago, LudwigK said:

When will it get the new name:   RUSSIA Island 

I thought Lil Moscow is the new name 

[DPKANKAN]

1 minute ago, PaDavid said:

The top 5 are:

 

1. Phuket, Thailand
2. Pattaya, Thailand
3. Krabi, Thailand
4. Mugla, Turkey
5. Hurghada, Turkey

1. Muğla (No 4) is a province (and provincial city) in Turkey. The city is inland and is fairly unremarkable. It certainly is not high on anyone’s list of places to visit. The province includes many resorts: Bodrum, Fetiyhe, and Marmaris are the larger ones, but there are dozens of other places dotted around the Muğla coastline many of which receive few tourists. .

 

2. Hurghada (No 5) is in Egypt, not Turkey. 
 

It makes you wonder how seriously you can take the report. 

Exactly. Had a fantastic resort we visited every year in Hurghada. Egypt!!

[wensiensheng]

There are many things wrong with Phuket but I seriously doubt it is the MOST overcrowded resort.

I come from Cornwall and I never go back there in summer months because every quaint Cornish fishing village is packed way beyond what is seen in Phuket. And parking is way way worse.

[TheFishman1]

Phuket should be renamed little Moscow or little Russia. TIT

[DPKANKAN]

4 minutes ago, wensiensheng said:

There are many things wrong with Phuket but I seriously doubt it is the MOST overcrowded resort.

I come from Cornwall and I never go back there in summer months because every quaint Cornish fishing village is packed way beyond what is seen in Phuket. And parking is way way worse.

Yeah. Phuket is 'Over priced' and over 'Mafiaed'. ????????????????

[madmitch]

I saw this article the other day. I think it is based on skewed data. 

 

The official population of Phuket is based on those that are registered as living in the province. Most Thais people that live and work in Phuket are registered in other provinces, not to forget the many thousands of Burmese migrant workers. The same goes for the other Thai provinces high up in the list.

 

Other countries don't use this registration system to record official populations in particular areas, and I'm sure this is the reason for Thai resort areas faring so poorly.

 

I'll also add that it's an odd method of defining overcrowding anyway. It would mean that cities with large populations would never appear on the list, though many are undoubtedly more overcrowded than many of the places on that list.

[gwapofarang]

I used to live in Phuket from 91 to 94, it was paradise on earth back then. When I first got there, only one gogo bar (Rock Hard) existed and one disco, I believe that was called Banana. Then around late 92 the complex on the other side of 2nd Road took rise then the rest. Happened rather fast.

 

Just realized I'm an old fart now, oh well at least my dick still works....

[OneMoreFarang]

Phuket, or at least some Phuket beaches like Patong beach, were already overcrowded 30 years ago. I know, because I was there at that time, and it was already a rip-off. 

But anybody who goes there now has no excuse anymore "I didn't know". 

[ChipButty]

I wouldn't say it's over crowded, right now is not busy I remember back in May visiting a 5 star hotel in Karon a few times and they only had 5 rooms booked,

 

[zzzzz]

BS article:
ever seen the crowds at Rio beaches, Ibiza, Resorts in Israel,China?
NO WAY are there crowds like that here

Quote

...When I first got there, only one gogo bar (Rock Hard) existed and one disco, I believe that was called Banana.

your memory sucks>
Titanic disco and than when we closed, the shark disco opened on the end of soi bangla
plenty of gogo bars off 2 sois on soi Banglae

do agree it was Paradise but for me  ( been here since 85 and raised a daughter here) its still  fine place to live or visit

Edited September 27 by zzzzz

[ChipButty]

They need to sort out the taxi nonsense, only this morning a young lady next to me having a coffee called Grab she needed to get to work and it was raining hard, 300 baht for less than 1km, me and my wife offered to drop her at work she left he bike at the coffee shop,

[TTSIssues]

As we are in Phuket this week I can confirm it is rammed with Russians, Indians and Arabs. Seen a few Chinese about but not many. Definitely busy again, even in the pouring rain. 

[Mavideol]

37 minutes ago, Irish star said:

I thought Lil Moscow is the new name 

couple months ago was renamed Phuketgrad   555

[wombat]

Haven't they renamed it Little Russia yet?

[Jiggo]

36 minutes ago, DPKANKAN said:

Yeah. Phuket is 'Over priced' and over 'Mafiaed'. ????????????????

And over there thank buddha 

[TroubleandGrumpy]

Phuket is an island that gets (at peak) 9 million tourists a year, against an official local population of 400K so this assessment is wrong.  The itnerant population of workers during the high season would be 2-3 times the number of locals.  But - it is massively over-rated and over-priced and corrupt - which makes it somewhere that people who know, dont go (again). I aint going again - ever.

[gwapofarang]

13 minutes ago, damo1967 said:

Ahh.. your nickname is sh1td1ck right?  Because you use your 'working' dick to enter the pooo-chutes of the katoeys.. good for you your dirty dick still works though!

My deepest appreciation for your utterly useless comment. Perhaps a simple joke otherwise known as levity escapes a cynic these days. What was once common humanity and indeed reality sure has been tossed aside like used "fill in the blank".

FYI back then katoeys where few and far between in fact none existent. If I didn't know better I'd think that was wishful thinking.

 

Congratulations on accomplishing and contributing absolutely nothing. Perhaps that assertion comes from your own personal experience either way it certainly reveals a lot about you. This cannot be denied. Good day sir.

Edited September 27 by gwapofarang

[Rimmer]

A post contravening our Community Standards has been removed.  

[Sydebolle]

Pictoral input of quality tourism by the red brethren from the North ????

Happy days are here again ...... pictures from public domain of Chinese beaches - go figure how that will "beautify" Phuket and "invite" quality tourists from faraway lands ???? 

[hotchilli]

2 hours ago, webfact said:

If you’re dreaming of pristine beaches, delectable street food, hundreds of fine dining options and unique Thai cultural attractions, Phuket would certainly be on your travel radar.

Would certainly not....

[Kinok Farang]

2 hours ago, thaibeachlovers said:

It was a <deleted> destination years ago, and that movie just made a bad situation worse.

Last time I went was after the tsunami to see for myself, and I got a great deal on an hotel.

They were just building the same <deleted><deleted> as before the tsunami and likewise on Phi Phi, so never went back to either places.

Still got the best choice of white-sand beaches in LOS.The resort beaches are still fab but the off the beaten track ones are breathtaking.

[Kinok Farang]

34 minutes ago, TTSIssues said:

As we are in Phuket this week I can confirm it is rammed with Russians, Indians and Arabs. Seen a few Chinese about but not many. Definitely busy again, even in the pouring rain. 

Often wonder what Thais think of these miserable races.We all know in most walks of life having fun is paramount to them.I just hope they look at them and realise money doesn't bring you happiness.