Phuket and Krabi airports still record the highest ever numbers of passengers up to May.

Andaman News NBT (VHF dial) at 8.30am & local Cable TV channel 1 + maybe FM90.5 Radio Thailand 6pm, broadcast to Phang Nga, Krabi & Phuket provinces, & possibly FM108 Mazz Radio 7.30pm in Phuket, Thursday 19 June 2008 & http://thainews.prd.go.th/newsenglish/ Contact [email protected]

The Airports of Thailand Public Company Limited, which manages Phuket International Airport, have informed Andaman News about their latest statistics up to May 2008. They showed a total of 18,744 aircraft movements, up 9.81% from 2007. The total numbers of arriving, departing and transit passengers in the first 5 months of the year, was 2,855,750 showing an increase of 13.56% compared to the same 5 months in 2007: This year still shows the highest ever numbers at Phuket. The total freight showed 8,695 tons in and out, a 3.24 % increase. Meanwhile Krabi International Airport, under the Civil Aviation Department, also reported its January to May 2008 figures, with with a total of 3,240 aircraft movements or 14.58% decrease compared to 2007: but the total numbers of passengers arriving and departing, with no transits, was 443,450 showing an increase 13.08% compared to the same 5 months in 2007: again these are still the highest numbers of passengers ever at Krabi.

Highest numbers of passengers ever at Krabi - yes - but will that mean better business for hotels, restaurants, shops, divers and tour companys? Definitely NO. We in Ao Nang did better business in 2007 than 2008. Why? Because in 2008 the Scandinavian charter tourism increased extremly and traditionally this kind of market do spend less money.