Tourist arrivals up 30pc despite rains
PHUKET: While heavy rains and flooding have stopped many Thai tourists from visiting Phuket and the Andaman region, the number of foreigners arriving on the island is up by 30% compared with the same time last year. Napasorn Kakai, the Deputy Director of the local Tourism Authority of Thailand office, today told the Gazette, “We expected to have more Thai tourists during the Apec holiday period in Bangkok and the school holidays, but heavy rains and flooding are causing problems for people traveling to southern Thailand. Floods have blocked roads in Phetchaburi and Prachuap Khiri Khan. “Thais prefer to travel in groups or as families, and to use their own transport as it is more convenient for stopping at places they like. Heavy rains and flooding in some areas has made some of them change their plans and, instead of heading south, they are traveling to areas near their home provinces,” she said. However, K. Napasorn explained that the shortfall of Thai tourists is being more than made up for by the number of foreign tourists arriving on the island. “So far this month we have had 30% more tourists arriving than in the same period last year,” she said, adding that European tourists are already arriving on Phuket in near-high-season numbers. She added that Russian President Vladimir Putin’s visit to Phuket over the weekend was a welcome boost for Phuket. “The president’s group spent most of their time sailing. This will help the Andaman area; the Russian market has high potential and the Thai government is considering Thai Airways flights to Moscow and developing bilateral tourism deals in the near future.”
