A LEADING resort complained today that large group bookings from China and Taiwan could not be confirmed because no seats on flights were available to Phuket.

Flights from Singapore were also booked out, a second resort reported.

Individual holidaymakers and families are also complaining in growing numbers that they are unable to get to the island.

Business travellers on the Phuket-Bangkok route are also struggling to find seats, impeding the island's normal commercial activity.

Thai Airways, the national airline and parent of low-priced Nok Air, which ceased Bangkok-Phuket services from August 1 without a public announcement, was being blamed for the lack of seats on flights to the island.

A Thai Airways spokeswoman told Phuketwan late on August 5 that the airline had no plans to increase the number of daily flights to Phuket from Bangkok.

The disclosures about a lack of seats came as a Phuketwan survey of the Andaman region indicated that some resorts are doing quite well, at least in terms of occupancy rates, despite the air crisis and economic uncertainty.

No clear-cut pattern emerged. Patong especially remains strong.

However it's plain that low season figures are generally trending down, with each resort largely relying on its individual appeal, pricing and marketing skills.

Here are the highlights from the survey:

One of Phuket's most consistent performers, the Katathani Phuket Beach Resort (480 rooms, opened 1980) reported occupancy at 65 percent, better than this time last year.

The Katathani dominates the beach at Kata Noi.

A reservation spokeswoman said that returning guests were a big proportion of that figure, with more Australians coming this year. The Middle East also provided a boost, she said.

In the heart of Patong, where occupancy usually remain strong during the low season, the Millennium Resort Patong (421 rooms, opened July 28, 2008), located in the Jungceylon shopping centre, reported a rate of 62.5 percent.

But a reservations spokesperson told Phuketwan that large group bookings from China and Taiwan had had to be cancelled because no flights could be found.

Millennium's dynamic online rates today started at 2975 baht for a superior room with a king-sized bed.

Not far away in Patong, the new three-star Ibis, which also opened earlier this year, was offering rooms at 1050 baht a night.

On the beach road, the four-star Phuket Graceland (460 rooms, opened February 2005) said Australians had boosted their rate this year to 80 percent.

This low season was a fraction better so far than last year.

Away from Patong, the Cape Panwa Hotel and Spa (246 rooms, opened 1987) reported a dip this year but a spokesperson declined to provide an occupancy rate.

The four-star usually relies on regular guests returning to what is a traditional east coast resort with a private beach.

In Krabi, a spokesperson for the five-star Sheraton Krabi Beach Resort (246 rooms, opened 2003) said the airline crisis had yet to affect bookings.

Occupancy was 40 percent, about the same as last year and considered quite good for the province. In Krabi, low seasons are usually very low.

Customers based in Singapore were having difficulty getting on to Tiger Airways flights, the spokesperson said. Being a five-star, many Sheraton customers also fly Thai Airways.

Rates begin at 4500 baht.

Occupancy rates in Phang Nga are usually lower, too, than those on Phuket.

But at the high end, the five-star Le Meridien Beach and Spa Resort Khao Lak(243 rooms, open 2005) said it was 60 percent full. That's probably more than twice as good as most other resorts in the province.

Forward bookings for the high season indicated perhaps the most promising season yet, a spokeswoman said. Dynamic rates begin at 4700 baht.

Guests mostly travelled by Thai Airways, so were not affected by the budget airline crunch.

However, with reports of last-minute travellers to Phuket being unable to book flights from Bangkok because of a reduction in the number of daily services, the serendipity market has probably vanished entirely.

This Letter to the Editor appeared in the Bangkok Post today under the heading: No Flights to Phuket:

My family is travelling around Southeast Asia on an extended vacation. After arriving in Thailand from Singapore, we spent a very happy few days in Bangkok.

We decided to book a week at the Amanpuri in Phuket. Booking the accommodation was easy and straightforward on the internet.

However trying to fly to Phuket seems impossible.

As an affluent family we always travel club class. We can find no flights down to Phuket until the end of next week, in any class - too late for us.

I am informed that two airlines in Thailand have recently stopped flying to Phuket and all other flights are sold out.

So we've had to change our plans and will now be flying to Penang for a week.

Just why is it that we are not able to travel easily within Thailand?

Clearly the tourist industry here is not well supported by the national airline. Just thought you should know.

PETER BAINES

Look for every day, Monday to Friday, at Phuketwan. It's essential reading.

To tell us your news, email bigislandmedia@gmail.com or telephone 081 6513489.

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Look for every day, Monday to Friday, at Phuketwan. It's essential reading.

To tell us your news, email bigislandmedia@gmail.com or telephone 081 6513489.