Airport Arrival Figures & Totals From Uk-ireland

[NBT TV Phuket]

1. According to the Airports Authority of Thailand's updated statistics, the Phuket International Airport's figures for the first six months from January to June 2006 seem encouraging.

For the total aircraft movements there were 6,352 take offs and landings, which was 81.33% more than the same period last year 2005, just after the tsunami of December 2004. The total number of passengers including both international and domestic, arriving, departing and in transit, was just over 2.3 million which is 79.03% more than last year. Perhaps the most important or indicative figure for tourism is the number of arriving international passengers, which was 397,300 or a very healthy 158% more than last year, while the number of arriving domestic passengers is always higher at 719,999 or 55% more than last year.

2. The Tourism Authority of Thailand's office in London has announced its visitor figures for the year 2005, which reached an impressive 730,984 up 7.73% year on year.

December 2005 was the busiest month followed by March and November. Interestingly, the number of visitors from the older markets has grown with visitors in the 45-54 year old bracket up 14.1% to 105,750, the 55-64 bracket up 5% to 76,646 and the 65 and over up 19.6% to 31,003.

The Director of TAT London said additional tour operators are featuring Thailand, with extra air capacity including the new Gatwick to Phuket charter from Thomson, and at the start of 2006, TAT set its target for visitors at 700,000 and to date this year has already exceeded this. Tour operators are reporting a good year so far and they expect this to continue throughout the rest of 2006.

------

both from Andaman News TV11 (VHF dial) + Radio Thailand FM90.5 Phuket City, both broadcast to Phang Nga, Krabi & Phuket provinces, 8.30am & maybe later on Phuket Cable channel 1 at 12 midday, 10.30pm, & 01.30am, Monday 7 August 2006 & www.Thaisnews.com

{ Our news text and mini-videos can be freely copied and posted on other websites, but please give credit to Andaman News TV11 Phuket}