Phuket tourists numbers still climbing

The Director of TAT Phuket office has revealed that in the first 6 months of 2012, Phuket saw growth of 30 percent in its number of tourists, with the majority being from China and Russia, whose numbers increased more than 100% against the same time last year. Mr.Chanchai Duangjit, Director of the Tourism Authority of Thailand – Phuket office said “The figures we have received have revealed that from January to June 2012 Phuket International Airport has seen a 30% increase in tourists coming to Phuket. There have been 100% increases in the number of Chinese & Russian tourists. The numbers of Chinese tourists who came to Phuket in the first 6 months of 2012 were 142,582, an increase of 106.63%, Russians 140,297 an increase of 104.91% whilst Australians were 121,916 an increase of 19.29%. However, Phuket saw lower increases in the number of European tourists, possibly down to the economic slowdown. We expect to see similar increases in the second half of the year unless there is a big problem such as political violence or a natural disaster. We certainly expect the year 2012 to see more than 7 million tourists visiting Phuket”. Mr.Chanchai added “Overall revenue from tourism in the 14 provinces in southern Thailand is about 200,000 million baht/year, Phuket Province alone has revenue of 100,000 million, in 2012 it is expected to no less than 110,000 to 120,000 million.” From phuketnews