PHUKET: Earthquakes, tsunami evacuations and even the foolish rumor of Phuket's destruction that prompted scare talk of ''Doomsday'' failed to stop the tourists coming in April.
Occupancy rates at Phuket resorts that are members of the Thai Hotels Association (Southern Chapter) zipped up from 69.99 percent last April to 77.9 percent in the same month in 2012.
Five-star and four-star guests visiting Phuket held their nerve, despite two runs from the sea to the hills in Patong and the west coast and a tremblor that rumbled like thunder.
Three-star customers, it seems, don't have quite the same Phuket pluck.
While five-star and four-star customers kept right on coming, no matter what the ill-informed were saying and writing about Phuket, three-star resorts on Phuket recorded a slip in occupancy from 73.22 percent in April last year to 63.78 percent this year.
Talk of Phuket's demise may be a little premature. Phuket five-stars jumped from 72.43 percent to 79.03 percent while Phuket four-stars were not far behind, up from 65.33 percent to 73.49 percent.
Expat visitors from Europe usually fall away in May and June but return in July and August. Low-season promotions, though, are expected to help keep Phuket's occupancy healthy.
Occupancy rates at Phuket resorts that are members of the Thai Hotels Association (Southern Chapter) zipped up from 69.99 percent last April to 77.9 percent in the same month in 2012.
Five-star and four-star guests visiting Phuket held their nerve, despite two runs from the sea to the hills in Patong and the west coast and a tremblor that rumbled like thunder.
Three-star customers, it seems, don't have quite the same Phuket pluck.
While five-star and four-star customers kept right on coming, no matter what the ill-informed were saying and writing about Phuket, three-star resorts on Phuket recorded a slip in occupancy from 73.22 percent in April last year to 63.78 percent this year.
Talk of Phuket's demise may be a little premature. Phuket five-stars jumped from 72.43 percent to 79.03 percent while Phuket four-stars were not far behind, up from 65.33 percent to 73.49 percent.
Expat visitors from Europe usually fall away in May and June but return in July and August. Low-season promotions, though, are expected to help keep Phuket's occupancy healthy.
Evidently the "low season promotions" have not yet kicked in, judging from the lack of arriving and departing travelers at Phuket International Airport.
Posted by cindy on May 10, 2012 18:50