Phuket tourism to improve from ASEAN meetings

PHUKET, July 19 (TNA) — Tourism in Thailand’s southern resort of Phuket is expected to become bullish again due to the confidence gained by foreign tourists following the ongoing meetings of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), tourism executives said.

Somboon Jirayus, chairman of the Phuket Tourism Association, said the tourism business in the resort island, sluggish in the past three to four months is anticipated to pick up again as hotels along the beach have been fully booked by participants and journalists covering the ASEAN meetings.

More tourists are expected to visit Phuket after the meetings end, said Mr. Somboon, adding that at least four charted flights from China are to land in Phuket weekly after this Friday.

On average, 40 per cent of total hotel room occupancy on the island was booked before the ASEAN meetings started, he said.

Phuket is hosting the 42nd ASEAN Ministerial Meeting (AMM), the Post Ministerial Conferences (PMC) and the 16th ASEAN Regional Forum (ARF) beginning last Friday (July 17), running through Thursday (July 23).

Sethaphan Buddhani, chief of the Tourism Authority of Thailand Phuket office, saidnopined that foreign countries will now find that Phuket and Thailand are now safe on the back of meetings being organised there.

Foreign investors may become interested in investing on the island due to its potential, Mr. Sethaphan added. (TNA)