Phuket achieves record tourism revenue

Phuket, one of Thailand’s most popular holiday islands, could set a new record in tourism revenue this year. According to the Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT), revenue is expected to reach at least 400 billion baht. This optimistic forecast is based on visitor numbers in the first quarter, in which more than 3.6 million tourists visited the island, a 30 percent increase year-on-year.

Lerdchai Wangtrakoondee, the director of the TAT office in Phuket, told the media on Saturday, May 25, 2024, that tourism revenue in the first quarter has already reached 137 billion baht. Despite the low season currently underway, the number of hotel reservations in Phuket remains stable. „The island practically no longer experiences a low season. The number of hotel reservations has hardly decreased,“ said Lerdchai.

During peak season, Phuket Airport receives more than 20,000 tourists daily and although this number is now declining somewhat, it remains well above the figures of previous years, with an average of 10,000 foreign tourists per day arriving via direct flights. The island has the most hotel capacity in Thailand, with 101,000 hotel rooms. Although the occupancy rate has dropped slightly from 86 percent in March to 70 percent in May, this is still an impressive occupancy rate.

The continued increase in tourist numbers and the associated revenue shows that Phuket is gaining global appeal as a destination. The combination of stunning beaches, luxurious accommodation and a wide range of leisure activities attracts tourists from all over the world. The local economy benefits enormously from this boom, with tourism revenue flowing into various sectors, including hospitality, retail and leisure activities.