"Tourism leaders on Phuket have said that the retention of direct flights to Phuket remains the key to both the island's short-term and long-term future."

Sadly, Phuket has been in the tourism news for all the wrong reasons over the last couple of years. The stabbings, killings, muggings, robberies, jetski-tuktuk scams among other things are all taking their toll.

These are the things that need to be fixed to protect Phuket's short-term/long-term future. Not the retention of direct flights.

Editor: We now have the official police list of crimes involving expats for the first four months of this year, so it's possible to say that the all evidence points to Phuket being an extremely safe destination. Visitors have nothing to fear. The vast majority of tourists come to Phuket and enjoy their holiday without any kind of interruption. To make Phuket out to be an unsafe destination is plain wrong, although the level of paranoia and scare-mongering may be world-class. People should certainly be aware of overpricing when it comes to transport, an important issue that is now being addressed. The direct-flight advocates, though, do have a point. If Phuket had to rely on flights via Bangkok, then the island's future would be shaky right now.

Posted by Antz Pantz on June 2, 2010 12:57

I would like to get more details on where and how this list of crimes against expats (- how is that status defined and logged when filing a complaint ?) came from and who compiled it.

The almost complete lack of incidents in Chalong (incl Rawai) makes it quite challenging to believe it indeed includes all crimes against foreigners ?

I know of several cases reported to the police missing from the list which at least makes one wonder about it's true purpose.

If it is official as claimed, then these details can be made public without hesitation.

On the main topic, I do think direct flights are of importance to tourists but not so much for expats. I always fly via Changi anyway. Going through Suvarnabhumi is as nice an experience as having a root canal.

Editor: The list was presented by police at the meeting with honorary consuls. We'd hope to glean more specific details next time the meeting takes place. These are, we were told, all cases where charges were laid.

Posted by Amazing Thailand on June 2, 2010 17:30

It does not matter if there were 20 incidents or 200, the press that the incidents get and the way they are resolved are what impacts tourists perceptions of any location.

When an incident gets reported in the international press readers who have little or no other information about a country assume that it is one incident of many and that lots of people have the same experience. This is compounded when the resulting investigation by the police and/or punishment to the guilty parties is dramatically different than what the foreign reader would expect at home.

Foreign countries rarely get a chance to explain or defend their reputation in the international press, and when it comes to tourism, the only information foreigners are going to get about a location is from the limited press they get (almost always when something bad has happened) or from people who have been there. If the tourists get treated poorly then they will not recommend it to their friends, it is as simple as that.

Editor: Perceptions are certainly what counts but travellers who check on a destination can clearly tell that their chances of getting into trouble are much greater with 200 incidents than 20. Fewer people these days also view everything beyond their national borders as ''foreign.'' The Internet is given people a greater degree of knowledge about destinations, different cultures, and dangers.

Posted by Anonymous on June 3, 2010 01:55