1999 a fine year for tourism in Phuket

PHUKET: Despite criticism that Phuket has become too expensive for its own good, the number of visitors coming to the island in 1999 was up by 15.9% compared with the previous year. This followed an increase of 10.8% between 1997 and 1998, and 4.8% between 1996 and 1997. The visitors also spent more; the Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT), which compiled the figures, estimates that Phuket’s revenue from tourism last year was 55.7 billion baht, a hefty 30.5% increase from 1998’s 42.7 billion baht. The 1999 figures show that 3,083,208 visitors came to Phuket last year. Of these, 2,167,802 were foreigners. Highlights of the TAT’s statistics: — The number of Thais arriving rose by 17.5%, from 779,167 to 915,406. — The biggest rise, according to guest arrival figures recorded by hotels and other accommodation establishments, was among visitors from Taiwan, who shot up by 40% to 214,360. — Arrivals from Britain, too, recorded a hefty rise, climbing by 29.7% to 240,375 visitors, making the British the largest foreign group. — Also sharply up were arrivals from Sweden, which sent 144,063 visitors, an increase of 28.7%. — The German contingent, though still a respectable 237,266 arrivals, declined by 0.4% compared with 1998. — Also down were the numbers arriving from Japan. They fell by 0.9% to 126,139. — Average daily expenditure by visitors increased to 3,441 baht per person, compared with 3,408 baht in 1998, and 2,865 baht in 1997. — Also up was the average length of stay, which was 5.07 days last year, compared with 4.30 in 1998, and 4.17 in 1997.