Phuket expects a good tourist year with more Russians and Chinese
The tourism sector on Phuket is looking forward to this year with confidence. The resort has left behind the effects of the hunt for zero-dollar tours and the Russians have found Phuket again, said Bill Barnett, director of C9 Hotelworks Co.
According to the February Phuket Hotel Market Update, the Russian market has already improved significantly. Last year, the number of Russian tourists increased by 51 percent thanks to the better ruble-baht exchange rate.
The Chinese are also coming back. The Chinese New Year already provided an extra stimulus this year. Phuket ended last year even in the plus. Turnover per hotel room increased by 4 percent. The number of tourists increased by 18 percent and more than 7,5 million tourists arrived at Phuket airport.
The renovation of the terminal for domestic air traffic will be completed at the end of this year. Both terminals, for domestic and international flights, will then be connected. Phuket airport can then handle even more tourists.
Barnett believes tourism in Phuket will triple over the next decade, making the island one of Asia's top tourist destinations. Until 2020, 32 more hotels will be added, which will provide 5.495 extra hotel rooms.
Source: Bangkok Post
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I really don't understand people saying "Phuket would be the tourist attraction of Asia". They are currently busy chasing away the tourist, 1st, no more beach chairs but a simple beach bed (you do pay the full price), 2nd, it has recently been decided to close the bars at 01.00 ( previously the nightlife started just at that time ) So clearly no improvements for Phuket
If you choose the right location on Phuket then you will have beach chairs and if the nightlife for some of you only starts at 1 am then I know the reason for it, because those people are looking for a girl at that time who offers it cheaper if they have no customers had that day.
In Bangla, you can go nuts at 20pm and as for closing time, it's not specifically about closing time but about stopping alcohol to have fewer deaths. In addition, it already extends to 2 hours, which is a great time if you want something from your day the next day and don't want to lie in your nest all day.
In other words, the island is completely ruined, it is already too busy with tourists (many Chinese, Russian and Arab low-budget tourists, by the way) who are already ruining the atmosphere and that is already X3. Well, I wouldn't want to go down to this former tropical paradise so much anymore. But I suspect that these numbers are again based on the typical Thai bluff…