Pattaya and Phuket tourism recovers

BANGKOK, 7 January 2010 (NNT) – More than five million local and foreign tourists have visited Pattaya during the New Year celebrations, bringing in approximately 35 billion THB in circulation.

The increasing number of tourists indicated a positive trend after the country’s tourism were hard hit by the political impasse and global economic recession, said Director of Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) in Pattaya Nitti Kongkrut.

Based on reports in Pattaya on 1 January 2010, the hotel reservation rate was around at 70-80%. However, the director said Pattaya needed to focus more on Thai tourists instead of foreign ones since the hotel reservation period had been shortened to only three months in high season.

Meanwhile in Phuket, positive figures were seen, as the occupation rate was at 70% during the province’s peak tourist period from January-March 2010, said President of the Phuket Tourist Association Somboon Chirayus.

During the New Year celebration period, Phuket had 80-90% in reservation rate, higher when compared to last year. The reservation trend has changed however, from reserving a year beforehand to last minute reservations, from groups with strong purchasing power.

According to Mr Somboon, most of the tourists were from Europe, Russia and Scandinavia. He added that tourism in Phuket had a potential to improve, with the improving economy if there was no political turmoil.