TAT says Phuket sandbox has generated over 43 billion baht in revenue

The Phuket sandbox scheme has so far generated over 43 billion baht in revenue, with visitor numbers steadily increasing. So says the Phuket office of the TAT, in a Bangkok Post report today. According to TAT Phuket director, Nanthasiri Ronnasiri, the sandbox scheme initially welcomed around 300 foreign tourists a day when it first launched last July. Since then, that number has continued to increase and recent arrivals have been around 3,000 a day.

She goes on to say that 3,350 international visitors landed on the island on Monday, arriving on 24 flights operated by 18 carriers. During the month of January, Phuket welcomed 86,282 visitors, with around 70,000 room reservations made and the average visitor staying 8 days. To date, the southern island has received 331,365 foreign tourists under the sandbox scheme, with each tourist spending an average of 7,000 baht a day. Nanthasiri says the island’s hotel occupancy ranges from 35% to 50%, but is expected to reach 60% – 70% during the Songkran holidays in April.

The TAT plans to hold a number of tourism campaigns and roadshows to stimulate domestic travel this year, with a goal of seeing 160 million domestic trips. Campaigns and roadshows will be timed to take place ahead of major holiday periods.

Panatchakorn Jaiyen from the Phuket Tourist Association says a Phuket tourism fair has gone down well with Thai tourists, with the first Phuket Ded Tang Koh tourism promotion held in Bangkok last month. Similar promotional events are planned for other provinces, including Trang, Udon Thani, Hat Yai, and Surat Thani.

SOURCE: Bangkok Post