PASSENGER numbers and flights in and out of Phuket plummeted in February - the reason why so many resorts around the Andaman and other businesses are doing it hard in 2009.

Flight numbers nosedived by 24.5 percent compared to February the previous year, with passenger totals tumbling by 22.87 percent.

February's decline was the greatest in five months of continuing negative figures, heightening uncertainty about March and beyond.

The minus sign is now the symbol for the world's economy, and Thailand's tourism industry is no exception.

Any Phuket resort with an occupancy rate that is down by less than 22 percent in February can claim to be doing better than the main economic indicator dictates.

With a few outstanding performances because of sharp marketing or sheer good fortune, downwards is the overwhelmingly popular direction.

The hidden factor is that the visitors who manage, despite everything, to make their way to the Andaman region for a holiday are spending much, much less.

So the impact of the worldwide slide is actually much greater than the prime numbers indicate. Some estimates put the drop in spending at between 40 percent and 60 percent, and that's real pain over an extended period.

Down went aircraft flights to and from Phuket by 14.92 percent in October, by 21.64 percent in November, by 22.23 percent in December, by 16.56 in January, and now by 24.15 percent in February.

The total of 3930 flights departing and arriving in February 2008 was reduced to 2981 in February 2009. Early last year, Phuket was flying particularly high, with those early figures leading to anticipation of a record year.

Passenger numbers then amounted to 635,000 in January (down to 562,557 in 2009) and 652,000 in February (down to 503,247 in 2009.)

It may be reassuring in a perverse way to note that the boom in arrivals in early 2008 had soured by mid-year. With the three-day Phuket airport invasion and blockade in August, the boom turned into a bust.

Recovery after the 2004 tsunami probably came easier than can be expected in the face of this enormous financial tsunami, which has yet to show signs of ebbing.

When the wash begins to recede, we will let you know.



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