Phuket tourism: UK growth in 2nd Q augurs well for Phuket

PHUKET: Despite the current woes of the pound, new economic statistics and forecasts for the UK lend credence to the Thai Tourism Authority’s recently stepped up efforts to market Phuket in that country.

With growth hitting a nine-year high, The Mail Online reports this evening that Britain’s economy expanded at a faster pace than first thought in the second quarter of the year.

The Office for National Statistics said the economy grew by 1.2 per cent in the three months to June, up from its preliminary estimate of 1.1 per cent, after construction output proved stronger than first estimated.

The figures provide further evidence that the UK’s economic recovery accelerated sharply during the first half of the year but economists are concerned that a weakening world economy and looming government spending cuts will sap growth in 2011.

However, hopes that the recovery will last were given further weight as a series of British companies posted strong profits.

For the Phuket Gazette‘s report earlier this week on Thailand’s marketing activities in the UK, click here.

— Phuket Gazette / Mail Online