BOOKINGS were at 80 percent for Phang Nga this high season with 353,430 tourists already visiting the province between January and the end of August.

Phang Nga Tourism Association spokesperson Vanyong Khorpetch said 127,841 of those visitors were expats. ''This year our main guests are coming in greater numbers, especially on charter flights from Scandinavia,'' he said.

Khun Vanyong, who also is MD of the Khao Lak Oriental Resort, said Scandinavia had been the core market of the Andaman coast resorts of Phang Nga for 18 years.

''They love the natural environment that Phang Nga has in greater profusion than Phuket,'' he said.

Tourism Authority of Thailand campaigns were responsible for Phang Nga's success as a destination. ''Thai food, hospitality and security all play a part,'' he added, ''Now we have to find other reasons to attract people as well.''

Phang Nga was proving to be an ecotourism destination, and this year Phang Nga's resort and diving industries would bring in 4-5 billion baht.

The total income would be seven billion baht - still short of the best Phang Nga year, which brought in nine billion baht before the 2004 tsunami.

The Khao Lak area offers 5000 rooms, with 6000 rooms available throughout the province, and another 1000 likely to be added with new resorts next year.

There was some annoyance, though, at Phuket using images of Phang Nga destinations in its campaigns. He said 80 percent of Scandinavians headed on to Phang Nga, even though they came through Phuket airport.