Tourism Stats Phang Nga, Road Repairs, Awards

[NBT TV Phuket]

The TAT revealed statistics for tourism in Phang Nga for the first half of the year showing overall increase of nearly 16%.

The Tourism Authority of Thailand have disclosed to Andaman News the numbers of visitors to Phang Nga for the first half of 2007, showing about 749,000 people, a 16% increase on the same period of 2006. They broke them down to about 362,000 foreigners which was 35% more and 387,000 Thais which was 3% more. Their average length of stay was 2.38 days, up from 2.3 in 2006. Their average expenditure was 1718 baht, 7% up. The total revenue was estimated at 1.86 billion baht, a healthy 22% increase. These estimate figures are mainly based on the 121 registered hotels who reported figures to the TAT, with a total of 4546 rooms, and average occupancy of only 36%. The top 7 nationalities registered were, in numerical order: Thais, Germans, Swedes, British, Swiss, Americans, and Taiwanese, the latter showing the highest increase of 5918%, while New Zealanders had the biggest fall of 71%, all in January to June 2007.

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Phang-Nga highway officials are working on the subsided road in Khao Lak .

The Highway Department is now working on repairs and improvement of the road surface at the Khao Lak curve in Phang-Nga in the Khao Lak–Lamru national park after heavy rain damaged and the road surface sub-sided. The incident occurred over a month ago, but the Highway Department needed to find a budget for the improvement and it has now been allocated a budget of 20 million baht. The work is expected to be completed within one month time. Motorists are advised to take special caution entering the road repair area there.

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Local hotels and tour companies won Asia & Thailand categories in the World Travel Awards.

The World Travel Awards for the Asia, Australasia & Indian Ocean Awards were announced in India on Friday 2 November, and among the Asia categories there were 2 local winners: Asia's Leading Boutique Hotel again won by The Sarojin Khao Lak, in Phang Nga; while Asia's Leading Tour Operator was Diethelm Travel Asia, which has local branches in the Andaman provinces; The winners of the Asia Awards will automatically be put forward as nominees in their respective global categories. The global world winners will be announced at the grand final on 12th December this year. Among other Thailand country awards, the Leading Boutique Resort was Trisara Resort in Phuket; Thailand's Leading Golf Resort was Sheraton Grande Laguna Phuket; and Thailand's Leading Resort was Pimalai Resort & Spa, at Ko Lanta in Krabi. The annual World Travel Awards were first conceived in 1993, and now have thousands of votes cast by travel professionals from 167,000 travel agencies, tour & transport companies and tourism organizations in over 160 countries.

Andaman News TV11 (VHF dial) 8.30am + maybe FM90.5 Radio Thailand 6pm, both broadcast to Phang Nga, Krabi & Phuket provinces, FM108 Mazz Radio 7.30pm in Phuket & Phuket Cable TV Channel 1 at 7, 10.30 or 11pm, Tuesday 6 November 2007 (& www.Thaisnews.com - but we cannot access site today)