Phuket Airport Arrivals Up By 12%

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Posted: 25 Sep 2012 | 3:34 pm

Total passenger arrivals at Phuket International Airport are up 12% for the first eight months of the year versus the same period is 2011.

The international sector led the trend which soared 14%, with domestic arrivals playing catch up at 9%.

Another key indicator is total flights arriving at PIA increased by 7% year-on-year.

Travel industry experts are closely watching the planned shift of the low-cost airlines from Suvarnahbumi to Don Muang at the onset of coming month and the impact on the overall travel sector.

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I am a regular visitor to Phuket i love the place, since the 2004 tsunami it has improved especially in patong.
It is cleaner the smell has reduced but still evident in some places. The dogs that used to roam the streets are gone or less of them.But the buildings along the road side between the airport and Patong which consist of delis and other small businesses need to be fixed or pulled down.They make the place look like 3rd world country and its not a good impression to a first time visitor.

Ben, 01 Oct 2012 | 10:45 am

I am a regular visitor to Phuket. In the last year I came for the months of December 2011 and January and February 2012 and again for August. I don't share the view that Phuket is booming. I spoke with many locals and business owners who say they have never known tourism to be so quiet.
I want the island to prosper, but if Phuket wishes to appeal to tourists from around the world as a place for a relaxing holiday it must shake off its 3rd world country image.
The main roads around the tourist hotels and beaches area should be a 'protected zone'
People should not be allowed to set up camp or kitchens anywhere on the side of the road without planning consent, or leave piles of rubbish and waste food on the roadside uncollected and rotting in the heat. May I suggest the use of wheelie bin's ?
I was very sorry to see Rats and Cockroaches running everywhere, stinking open sewers, broken and dangerous pavements ( if any pavements at all ) and disgusting public toilets. One such example is Patak Road in Kata which is disgraceful in parts and enough to turn anyone's stomach. This is not most peoples idea of Holiday Paradise so why would tourists spend money to come here ? Thailand is a naturally beautiful country and not enough is being done to keep it that way. I had previously considered investing here but have since changed my mind. I believe many parts of Phuket are seeing the results of neglect and the tourists are going elsewhere in the world. I do hope things change for the benefit of the whole country and its people. Thailand as a whole must now follow the example of Malaysia and do much more to welcome and encourage foreign investment rather than have petty regulations that suppress it.

Peter Webb, 27 Sep 2012 | 5:14 am