Phuket: Strong Growth In Tourism

[george]

Pickup in Phuket

PHUKET: -- Phuket registered strong growth in tourism in the first quarter of this year, dispelling lingering concerns about the impact of the tsunami in December 2004.

The latest figures from Airports of Thailand Plc showed that passenger arrivals totalled 1,315,735 in the first quarter, an increase of 97% from the same period last year, when visitor numbers had plunged in the immediate aftermath of the tsunami.

Total aircraft movements at Phuket airport rose by 33% year-on-year to 7,800 in the first quarter, AOT said.

--Bangkok Post 2006-05-13

[Sir Burr]

And yet Thai International still has no direct flights to and from Singapore.

Silk Air has two to three flights a day, all full and Tiger Airways one a day, also full.

Seems like Singapore has more faith in Phuket tourism than Thailand.

[kasi]

I noticed Malaysia airlines flights to KL from Phuket were running pretty full as well.

Now all we need is for the local officials to get serious about fixing the water and sewer issues.

[NBT TV Phuket]

from Andaman News TV11 + Radio Thailand FM90.5 Phuket City, both broadcast to Phang Nga, Krabi & Phuket provinces, 8.30am Thursday 18 May 2006 & www.Thaisnews.com

1. Domestic markets are targeted for the Andaman region with special packages offered.

Experiencing the low tourist season, the public and private tourism businesses are planning marketing campaigns to attract domestic travelers to the region. The local tourism office Assistant Director in Phuket, Anoma Wongyai, said the TAT, Phuket and Krabi Tourist Association and Koh Yao Home Stay took part in a special package fair in Bangkok during May 17th to 21st highlighting the weekday offers. Among special packages are discounts for senior citizens. In June, the tourism businesses will join hands with Air Asia for eco-tourism targeting at families. Other activities comprise the Thailand Grand Sales and the International Marathon. According to Anoma, occupancy rates in Phuket now stand at around 50%.

2. The number of passengers at Phuket Airport have picked up again this year after falling last year.

The recent figures from the Airports of Thailand at Phuket International Airport showed that total passengers, including both arrivals & departures, international & domestic and those in transit, came to 1,315,734 in the first three months of January-March 2006, which is an increase of 96.74% from the same period last year 2005, when visitor numbers had dropped dramatically in the immediate aftermath of the tsunami in December 2004. January 2006 alone was an impressive 467,309 or 157.45% higher than in 2005.

They have also just informed us that the April 2006 figures, for that month only, including the Songkran and Easter holidays, were 389,921 or 64.26% more than last April 2005, and that the 7 months from October 2005 to April 2006, generally the high tourist season here, were 2,798,149 or 21.54% more than the previous corresponding months and high season.

These figures confirm that the new year so far has brought more tourists and visitors compared to last year, when every month was in decline compared to 2004. There is also a report that AOT may reduce landing fees in June to attract new direct flights.