Readers’ poll: Phuket economy hurt by Bangkok turmoil

PHUKET: Most Phuket Gazette online readers think the political turmoil in April and May seriously harmed Phuket’s economy, the results of the latest readers’ poll reveal.

Of 536 readers who took part, 59.7% overall said the protests seriously harmed Phuket’s economy.

A smaller percentage, 27.6%, said the events had hurt Phuket’s economy ‘a little’, while 5.2% thought Phuket had not been affected at all.

Only 7.5% of readers believed the turmoil had a positive effect on the local economy.

The two-week poll opened May 22, three days after the protests in Bangkok turned violent with shootings and arson attacks.

In a demographic breakdown, 67% of foreign residents thought the impact was serious, compared with 52% of people who identified themselves as tourists or visitors.

Some 44% of Thais who voted in the poll tended to be less pessimistic, thinking the impact was ‘serious’ compared with 33% who thought the economy was only affected ‘a little’.

To view the complete poll results click here.

— News editor