PHUKET: The clean, natural look of Phuket's beaches was already encouraging an increase in bookings and will promote a more sustainable future, a leading industry spokesman said yesterday.
''I forecast an average occupancy rate for Phuket for 2014 of about 75 percent,'' said Bhuritt Maswongsa, Vice President of the Phuket Tourism Association.
What people are saying about changes to Phuket's beaches and to its tuk-tuk and taxis is beginning to evoke the concept first defined by resort owner and former honorary consul Larry Cunningham of ''the New Phuket.''
He figured that if Phuket could make a fresh start, the Europeans who had forsaken the once-beautiful holiday island would return.
And Khun Bhuritt said yesterday that the big Phuket comeback already appears to be underway.
''Tourists are mostly delighted that the beaches have been cleared,'' he said. ''The Phuket of today looks much more like the Phuket of 20 or 25 years ago. We believe that the cleanup is positive, and that the island's future has already become more sustainable.''
Charter flights from China were on the rise, he said, along with bookings from Europe.
''Now we have to promote the image through the media and to make sure people are confident about security and safety.''
He said bookings in July were already up 10 percent and more improvement was expected.
''I forecast an average occupancy rate for Phuket for 2014 of about 75 percent,'' said Bhuritt Maswongsa, Vice President of the Phuket Tourism Association.
What people are saying about changes to Phuket's beaches and to its tuk-tuk and taxis is beginning to evoke the concept first defined by resort owner and former honorary consul Larry Cunningham of ''the New Phuket.''
He figured that if Phuket could make a fresh start, the Europeans who had forsaken the once-beautiful holiday island would return.
And Khun Bhuritt said yesterday that the big Phuket comeback already appears to be underway.
''Tourists are mostly delighted that the beaches have been cleared,'' he said. ''The Phuket of today looks much more like the Phuket of 20 or 25 years ago. We believe that the cleanup is positive, and that the island's future has already become more sustainable.''
Charter flights from China were on the rise, he said, along with bookings from Europe.
''Now we have to promote the image through the media and to make sure people are confident about security and safety.''
He said bookings in July were already up 10 percent and more improvement was expected.
Clean natural look of Phuket beaches???...I beg to differ re' Patong Beach..sure the beach chairs and umbrellas are down but there were jet skiis and parasailors parked all over the beach today from one end to the other...It seems the army will allow this trash to stay
Posted by sky on July 11, 2014 17:24