item--6--- on VDO at http://thainews.prd.go.th/newsenglish/prev...php?news_id=940

Krabi Airport recorded 24% less passengers in 2008, including an alarming 50% down in December 2008 alone.

Krabi International Airport, under the Civil Aviation Department, have just revealed its 2008 full year figures, with a total of 4,739 aircraft movements or 44.5% less compared to 2007, mainly due to bigger charter aircraft. The total numbers of passengers arriving and departing, with no transits, was 649,103 also showing a decrease of 24.13% compared to the same 12 months in 2007. The decrease was partly due to the airport closure in August, and Bangkok airport closures in late November, both during protests against the government then, and also the global financial slowdown. The effects continued in December when there were only 43,292 passengers down an alarming 49.86%. However on the plus side, the total freight showed 1,246,025 kilograms in and out, a 8.94% increase over 2007.

related item----7--- International Tourist arrivals worldwide recorded a 2% rise last year but showed a decline in the latter half.

The UN World Tourism Organisation or WTO informed Andaman News that in 2008, international tourist arrivals worldwide reached 924 million, up 16 million over 2007, representing a growth of 2%. But tourism demand slowed significantly through the year under the influence of an extremely volatile world economy. The second half of 2008 saw growth come to a standstill with the number of international arrivals declining slightly – a trend which is expected to continue in 2009. Overall, the 5% growth between January and June gave way to a 1% decline in the second half of the year. Though certainly not immune to the economic woes, tourism has initially resisted the economic downturn better than other economic sectors, such as construction, real estate or car manufacturing. Growth was negative in the last six months of 2008 in both Europe (-3%) and Asia (-3%). The drop is even more significant in Asia given its double digit growth in 2007 and strong showing in the first part of 2008 (+6%), according to UN WTO figures.

Krabi Airport recorded 24% less passengers in 2008, including an alarming 50% down in December 2008 alone.

Scary stuff for tourist related businesses.

RAZZ

It would be down in Dec nobody could get into the country till the 12th

It would be down in Dec nobody could get into the country till the 12th

Exactly

But i was down there for a while in early Jan, and around Ao Nang and Railay was far busier than i have ever seen it. And all THAI flights were full when i travelled. So i guess lots of people must of just delayed trips ect after the Suvarnaphumi situation in Dec.

this statistic is for the whole 2008 - looks like there was some business in january 2009.

there is a chance as well, that tourists choose some other airports with cheaper airfare fare or other modes of transport. Most of the backpackers do travel by bus rather than plane

Phuket & Krabi Airport statistics for February show steep falls in traffic, passengers and freight.

The Airports of Thailand Public Company Limited, which manages Phuket International Airport, have informed Andaman News about their latest official statistics for February 2009. They showed a total of 2,981 aircraft movements, down 24.15% from February 2008. The total numbers of arriving, departing and transit passengers in the second month of the year, was 503,247 showing a decrease of 22.87% compared to the same month in 2008: The total freight showed 1,526 tonnes in and out, a 28.02% decrease. Meanwhile Krabi Airport, under the Department of Civil Aviation, reported 363 aircraft movements or 33.27% less than February last year. There were 60,170 passengers or 26.92% less than February 2008. The freight was recorded at 147,008 kilograms, but at least this was only 3.32% less than last February.

item--6--- on http://thainews.prd.go.th/newsenglish/prev...hp?news_id=1026

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