PHUKET: Phang Nga's outlook for tourism growth is coming along nicely, Prapud Khorpeach, President of the Phang Nga Tourist Association, said this week as he passed through Phuket airport.

Khun Prapud was returning home from ITB Berlin, world's largest travel fair, where he reckons awareness of Phang Nga was greater this year.

''We stayed for the whole event for the first time, rather than just two days,'' he said. ''Interest levels were high.''

Around Khao Lak, the best-known of the tourist destinations for those taking a left turn from Phuket International Airport, there are now 5500 resort rooms available, he says.

Come October or November and that number will be boosted by about 1500 more rooms. That's mostly down to Phuket resort owners expand north.

The Kata Group, Merlin and Graceland are among the well-known Phuket names opening ''branches.''

''Many Phuket resorts are also opening in Phang Nga,'' Khun Prapud said. ''They recognise that the Andaman coast north of Phuket offers a more natural holiday getaway these days.

''Our aim is to keep the region as natural as possible, without tall buildings.''

He says people in Phang Nga always keep a close eye on Phuket - not to follow the Phuket example, but to learn what not to do.

''We don't aim on allowing jet-skis here,'' he said. ''And we won't allow the illegal taxi problem to develop, either.''

The ITB Berlin Go Asia Award 2012 recognises the best tourism destinations in Asia. Winning the competition was Thailand, with Singapore coming in second and Indonesia third.