PHUKET: Doomsayers who predict Phuket's demise as an international tourism destination are the only ones who will be downcast over the latest figures for Phuket air traffic.
A total of 4,745,590 passengers passed through Phuket International Airport in the first six months of 2012.
In their millions, they failed to be alarmed by exaggerated ''news'' reports and repeated online Phuket-bashing - the island's only out-of-control crime.
Double that figure of 4.7 million, subtract a few thousand because the second half of the year is always a bit lighter for tourists, and you have a grand total of about 9.1 million for the year.
It may be true that Phuket has a few problems, beginning with delays sometimes getting out of or into the Phuket airport.
Yet much-maligned and put-down Phuket, though it may be more urban and less green than ever, also has a fan base Lady Gaga would envy.
Whether the extra tourists who have chosen to come since last year's record tally of 8.4 million arrivals and departures are big spenders is what everyone really wants to know.
The airport's turnstiles just aren't talking.
What the clicks can say loud and clear, though, is that June's numbers were up by 12.79 percent on the previous year, to a healthy tally of 621,889.
Even with Europeans reportedly staying at home in greater numbers, international traffic rose by 10.79 percent while domestic traffic took off by 14.76 percent.
June's total is the lowest for the year so far, indicating that whatever wishful thinking may be taking place, Phuket still has a high season and a low season.
The numbers have been in gradual decline since January, when Phuket first topped the million-passenger mark in a month.
Last year there was an upward bounce from June to July and August, followed by a dip in September, then a climb back up to January's record figure. Expect the same ride this year.
The real question that needs answering is whether Phuket International Airport, built to cater for 6.5 million passengers, can continue to adapt.
If Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra wants to keep the revenue stream from tourism flowing through Phuket, then improving the capacity of its most important international gateway should also be a priority.
With the new, improved airport possibly as far off as 2016 unless construction begins quickly and no contractor yet in place, the PM should be keen to see action from Airports of Thailand.
A total of 4,745,590 passengers passed through Phuket International Airport in the first six months of 2012.
In their millions, they failed to be alarmed by exaggerated ''news'' reports and repeated online Phuket-bashing - the island's only out-of-control crime.
Double that figure of 4.7 million, subtract a few thousand because the second half of the year is always a bit lighter for tourists, and you have a grand total of about 9.1 million for the year.
It may be true that Phuket has a few problems, beginning with delays sometimes getting out of or into the Phuket airport.
Yet much-maligned and put-down Phuket, though it may be more urban and less green than ever, also has a fan base Lady Gaga would envy.
Whether the extra tourists who have chosen to come since last year's record tally of 8.4 million arrivals and departures are big spenders is what everyone really wants to know.
The airport's turnstiles just aren't talking.
What the clicks can say loud and clear, though, is that June's numbers were up by 12.79 percent on the previous year, to a healthy tally of 621,889.
Even with Europeans reportedly staying at home in greater numbers, international traffic rose by 10.79 percent while domestic traffic took off by 14.76 percent.
June's total is the lowest for the year so far, indicating that whatever wishful thinking may be taking place, Phuket still has a high season and a low season.
The numbers have been in gradual decline since January, when Phuket first topped the million-passenger mark in a month.
Last year there was an upward bounce from June to July and August, followed by a dip in September, then a climb back up to January's record figure. Expect the same ride this year.
The real question that needs answering is whether Phuket International Airport, built to cater for 6.5 million passengers, can continue to adapt.
If Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra wants to keep the revenue stream from tourism flowing through Phuket, then improving the capacity of its most important international gateway should also be a priority.
With the new, improved airport possibly as far off as 2016 unless construction begins quickly and no contractor yet in place, the PM should be keen to see action from Airports of Thailand.
As long as the foreign language Media refuse to report what is really going on in Phuket & Thailand the tourists will remain ignorant of the facts.
I challenge Phuket Wan to print my statement and prove me wrong!
Posted by Nip on July 6, 2012 14:15
Editor Comment:
Tourists come and go safely in the hundreds of thousands. Living here or running a business here is a different matter.
Why not do what every other Phuket-basher does, Nip? Start a website and begin spreading misinformation.