Phuket Tourism Trying To Cope

[george]

Phuket trying to cope

TOURISM:Phuket is still struggling to recover from the after-effects of the Dec 26 tsunami, with arrivals down 40% and spending down 30%, according to a report by the Pacific Asia Travel Association (Pata) and Visa International Asia Pacific.

Peter de Jong, president the Bangkok-based trade group, called on travellers and the travel industry to rally behind the tsunami-affected destinations.

"It is understandable that some travellers, particularly from Chinese cultures, may have some concerns about travelling to destinations where many lives have been lost," he said. "But we cannot help these communities get back on their feet by staying away."

Mr de Jong urged regional airlines to ensure sufficient seat capacity, and attractively priced airfares, to encourage consumers to return.

"As at June, weekly scheduled seat capacity to Phuket had dropped almost 18% and at least four carriers have stopped flying the route. These destinations can't make a full recovery until seat capacity is restored and the industry starts aggressively marketing and selling them."

James Murray, Visa International executive vice-president for South and Southeast Asia, said the latest figures were further demonstration of the importance of tourism to the economies of Asia Pacific.

Spending by international Visa cardholders in Phuket fell by 65% in January. It recovered briefly for a few weeks in March before dropping again, with average declines of between 20% and 40% through the end of July, according to Visa.

--Bangkok Post 2005-08-29

[The Skipper]

Lets see , the Asians won't go because of Ghosts, families won't be going because the potential Tsunami danger.

...and they are still hasseling tourists at nitespots with urine tests, closing times, etc.

Crazy!

[sriracha john]

Suppose the "huge" (the hotel's and TAT's definitions) discounts offered by the hotels are also due to end soon, too?..

[Sphere]

"It is understandable that some travellers, particularly from Chinese cultures, may have some concerns about travelling to destinations where many lives have been lost," he said. "But we cannot help these communities get back on their feet by staying away."

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

I don't know where Mr. de Jong gets his information, but I was in Phuket last week and the majority of tourists I could see appeared to be of Chinese culture.

[sriracha john]

It appears that the downside of falling tourism in Phuket is an upside for Vietnam, where there's been a huge increase in the number of tourists this year, INCLUDING the Chinese.

HANOI - Vietnam welcomed over 2.3 million foreign visitors in the first 8 months of this year.

The country`s biggest tourism markets in the period included China`s mainland with 527,140 visitors, the United States with 230, 940, and South Korea with 211,510, the Vietnam National Administration of Tourism told Xinhua Monday.

The number of tourists surged by 34.6 percent....

If Phuket's not careful... those trends will be difficult to change.