EDITORIAL: Embracing the winds of change in 2016 and beyond

[Jonathan Fairfield]

EDITORIAL: Embracing the winds of change in 2016 and beyond

The Phuket News

PHUKET: Looking back at 2015, like every year in recent memory, many changes came for Phuket, which continues to discover its ever-evolving identity within the greater, globalizing planet.

The island has experienced constant growing pains this past year. Though estimates vary, waste data provides a consistent and reliable indicator that the island’s population continues to grow by 7-10 per cent annually. And with roughly a million people occupying the nation’s sole island-province at any given time, infrastructure is strained and services are in constant demand – but in short supply – as public policies and restrictive budgets struggle to keep pace.

The face and race of tourists continues to transform along with the volatility and uncertainty of domestic and international politics, but Phuket’s tourism lifeblood manages to sustain steady flow, with thousands of rooms added to the unofficial inventory, and airport passenger capacity bolstered.

Though much of the recent tourism growth has been thanks to “discount-seeking” tour groups – mostly from China – smaller high-cap niche markets continue to meet high expectations, as the outlook is looking swell for wedding, MICE, marine and “indy” traveller sectors, among others.

Full story: http://www.thephuketnews.com/editorial-embracing-the-winds-of-change-in-2016-and-beyond-55626.php#sthash.y5R54epB.dpuf

-- Phuket News 2016-01-01