Phuket Tourist Profile
Phuket has seen a surge in Chinese tourists during the start of the low season, with the majority of international visitors hailing from China. Russia and Australia follow as the next top sources of tourists, as reported by the Phuket Tourist Association (PTA).
PTA vice-president, Thanawat Oncharoen, stated that most of the Chinese visitors were independent travelers, with group tours from China remaining low. Although international arrivals are currently at 70% of pre-pandemic numbers, this marks a significant improvement compared to the previous year.
European and Russian Holidaymakers Boost Revenue
Phuket’s tourism-related revenue has returned to pre-Covid-19 levels, thanks in part to the arrival of longer-term holidaymakers from Europe and Russia. The island’s authorities hope to attract more tourists from Kazakhstan and Israel this year.
Middle Eastern visitor numbers generally rise around this time annually, as tourists from the region enjoy the rainy season in Phuket. Meanwhile, Indian and Australian visitor figures have bounced back to pre-pandemic levels.
Phuket Hotel Occupancy at 70%
Sueksit Suwannaditsakul, president of the Southern chapter of the Thai Hotels Association, revealed that hotel occupancy in Phuket stood at 70% between January and May. The island boasts around 3,000 hotels with a total of approximately 200,000 rooms.
Economic Impact and Projections
Lertchai Wangtrakuldee, director of the Tourism Authority of Thailand’s (TAT) Phuket office, disclosed that Phuket welcomed at least 6 million domestic and international travelers during the first five months of this year. These visitors generated about 196 billion baht for the local economy.
TAT projects that at least 12 million tourists will visit Phuket this year, further boosting the island’s economy and tourism industry.
