Have you guys in charge of Phuket ever thought about that there could be also other reasons than economic downturn not to come to Phuket anymore? I and a couple of friends were regular visitors to Phuket for seven years until 2008.

We always came in march and brought our bicycles with us to prepare for the european bicycle season. But now we found the traffic, driving skills of most people here and road conditions are simply too dangerous to train here anymore...sometimes it seems some certain species of car-driver want to kill you :(:(:(

cheers Daniel

Editor: If there are places in the world where motorists like cyclists and are happy to share the road with them, please let us know.

Posted by Daniel on November 10, 2009 21:22

As someone who lives in a usually very busy South of France tourist area, I think Phuket has to come to accept the waning tourist industry. I have said before, Thailand is not cheap.

Once the average tourist has paid around 800 to 1000 euros for a round ticket, then a few thousand baht a night for a hotel, a dozen nice meals, boat trips etc, he will find that his two weeks in Phuket has cost him much more than two weeks on the French Riviera.

If you add to all this the great difference in quality, infrastructure, no public transport and the numerous scams, then Thailand is not such a great deal !

I love this country and have been coming here regularly for 25 years, but take your average tourist, alone or with family with kids, and there is a lot here to frighten you off. I have met many who have said they will never come back!

This is the difference between viable holiday destinations and lots of places in Thailand, which don't benefit from return guests. .Shame.

Posted by elizabeth on November 11, 2009 05:17

You are probably right that nowhere do motorists like cyclists. But there are places where the motorists have developed driving skills and follow the rules of the road. You must agree the way most motorists drive around on Phuket Island is just simply reckless.

About the road conditions you know, too. The far left side, where bicyclists are supposed to ride, is often covered with sand, broken glass, lost concrete, potholes, wrongly parked vehicles and much more to tell. Wit ha bicycle it's an obstacle run.

Posted by Daniel on November 11, 2009 17:17

Elisabeth, what is the last time you were at the Cote D' Azur? The last time I was there I paid 15 Euro for a cup of coffee, a juice and an espresso, the same things in Phuket buys me dinner for two at a local place in expensive Patong.

Phuket is expensive by Thai standards, but still good value if you compare it to resorts in Europe, Caribbean and even Australia.

Of course if you live in France and drive down to the Cote, not having to pay for an air fare its cheaper. However the smiles at the Cote were rather sour....

Posted by wm on November 12, 2009 13:11

I dont believe that you can say Phuket is expensive,where are you staying or eating? Maybe if you have a closer look and do some homework then you can comfortably eat and sleep in Phuket inexpensively, I am only on a pension and stay for 3 months every year.It surpirises me when people say that a massage is expensive A Thai massage for AUD $6 at home its AUD $60 and people dont tip, I have no interest to travel to France or Europe as Thailand has so much to offer at minimal expense I have been coming for many a year and plan to travel to Thailand for many more years.

The very fact that the best that Thailand has to offer is its people who welcome all with smiles and honesty and its geniune. Well done thailand

Cheers Alex

Posted by Anonymous on November 12, 2009 17:57

Dear All
I am fed up with with hearing all the lame excuses as stated above ie airport demos, decline in the economy in fighting within thai policy makers. Why are the TAT and people like khun buritt ignoring the main reasons why people are staying away? its the scams, the rip-offs, double pricing and the overall attitude from thais to farangs. These are reasons why Patong is struggling.

Posted by william dale on November 14, 2009 05:31

WM,
Better a stale smile than a faked one.

Posted by HorseDoctor on November 16, 2009 20:49

I used to love coming to Phuket to be with Thai people and enjoy Thai culture. As a westerner I loved Thailand because it provided an escape from the Anglo world and a get away from all the my fellow westerners (I deal with every day at home). Now whenever I go to Phuket, all I ever see are mostly European westerners - arrogant and/or elitist acting, behaving as if they own Thailand and showing little respect for Thai culture or the Thai people. For example Songkran was a disaster. European clowns and drunkards running around making a mockery of themselves and the holiday. I saw several arguments and fights.

I'm sorry but when I go to Thailand the last thing I want to see are bunch of arrogant, elitist, disrespectful westerners. But sadly, this is what Phuket has become.

The added insult? Prices for everything actually increased - while the quality went down! I stopped going to Pattaya for this reason, and now I have stopped vacationing in Phuket for the same reason. Until this gets "resolved", I'm spending my vacation dollars in Bali, and Hawaii instead.

Posted by Lars on November 24, 2009 21:53