Phuket’s tourism set to earn 500 billion baht this year

Phuket’s tourism industry is poised for a financial boom, with anticipated earnings reaching an impressive 500 billion baht this year. The island’s strategic focus on attracting visitors through sports tourism, even during the traditional off-season, is driving this growth, according to the Tourism Authority of Thailand’s (TAT) Phuket office.

Director of TAT Phuket, Lertchai Wangtrakuldee highlighted that the island effectively has no low season, which traditionally spans from May to October. This is due to the plethora of sports-related activities that continue to draw tourists and significantly boost revenue.

“We have activities to attract visitors all year round. We organise various sports competitions such as surfing, golf, cross-country running, trail running races and Thai boxing competitions.”

This strategic approach has led to a 16% rise in visitor numbers from May to October compared to the same period last year, with tourist numbers surpassing pre-pandemic levels.

Tourism income is projected to hit between 450 and 500 billion baht this year, a new record that exceeds the target of 440 billion baht. This achievement positions Phuket as the leading province in tourism revenue across the country, despite hosting fewer visitors than other areas.

Lertchai pointed out that while Chon Buri earned 200 billion baht from 19 million visitors between January and September, Phuket managed to generate 360 billion baht from just 9.5 million tourists, translating to 30 to 40 billion baht per month.

Lertchai has accredited Phuket’s secrets to success to income from sports tourism, emphasising the growing popularity of Muay Thai among international travellers.

Kongsak Yodmanee, Sports Authority of Thailand governor, praised the recent 30th Laguna Phuket Triathlon, which took place over the weekend. The event attracted 1,000 athletes from around the world, providing a significant boost to local income, reported Bangkok Post.

In related news, Phuket anticipates a surge in Kazakhstani tourists with the inauguration of direct flights from the Central Asian country’s remote capital, Astana.