Working against an economic boom on Phuket is the same old mafia gang, but led by a new guy, the strong, muscle-flexing baht. There's also ''scarface'' discounts and ''you dirty rat'' oversupply of rooms, to name just two of the main thugs. Even the police and the army don't seem prepared to take them on.
Last September's figures may have provided a low base - it was a very bad year until the high season got rolling - yet the latest numbers are impressive enough to inspire hope for better things to come in October, November, December and beyond.
Something may need to be done, though, about domestic traffic, which was up a mere 1.97 percent. Total passenger traffic increased by 23.04 percent, from 389,942 to 479,800.
There were 3692 flights in and out of Phuket, a solid 34.21 percent increase on September 2009.
Taking the broader viewpoint, international arrivals and departures between October 2009 and September 2010 rose by 38.81 percent to 3,092,148, and the total with domestic travellers thrown in stretched to 6,797,098. That's 24.91 percent up on the comparative period.
Keeping them coming is just part of the battle, but it's the most important bit. And one of these days, those hoodlums could be tamed.
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no mention of the taxi mafia or the time share mafia?
Posted by mikey on October 5, 2010 23:56