PHUKET: Passenger numbers through Phuket International Airport declined for the second month in a row in July as the holiday island felt the effects of the coup in Thailand and changes in China.
There had been five years of constant growth month by month since 2009, but now arrivals and departures have dropped 9.69 percent in July following on from a downturn of 12.11 percent in June compared to the same months last year.
Some may speculate that people who love sunbeds and umbrellas and shorefront restaurants are turning their backs on Phuket but that would be unrealistic.
With the beaches less cluttered than at any time since the 2004 tsunami, Phuket can expect to attract just as many tourists as ever.
Coups have never been noted for increasing tourism to any country and negative media coverage of the military takeover in Thailand on May 22 is probably responsible for the downturn in arrivals and departures on Phuket.
Before the coup came changes designed to outlaw ''zero baht'' tours from China. But between now and November, visitors from China and Taiwan will be exempt from paying visa fees.
August's Phuket airport figures should show a rebound.
In many ways, the 2004 tsunami and the 2014 coup are bookends for a remarkable period that saw Phuket develop at a faster rate than ever before, but without strategic planning and infrastructure keeping pace.
The coup commanders are now providing the fresh start on Phuket's beaches that many people thought should have taken place back in 2004. Good ideas take time.
There had been five years of constant growth month by month since 2009, but now arrivals and departures have dropped 9.69 percent in July following on from a downturn of 12.11 percent in June compared to the same months last year.
Some may speculate that people who love sunbeds and umbrellas and shorefront restaurants are turning their backs on Phuket but that would be unrealistic.
With the beaches less cluttered than at any time since the 2004 tsunami, Phuket can expect to attract just as many tourists as ever.
Coups have never been noted for increasing tourism to any country and negative media coverage of the military takeover in Thailand on May 22 is probably responsible for the downturn in arrivals and departures on Phuket.
Before the coup came changes designed to outlaw ''zero baht'' tours from China. But between now and November, visitors from China and Taiwan will be exempt from paying visa fees.
August's Phuket airport figures should show a rebound.
In many ways, the 2004 tsunami and the 2014 coup are bookends for a remarkable period that saw Phuket develop at a faster rate than ever before, but without strategic planning and infrastructure keeping pace.
The coup commanders are now providing the fresh start on Phuket's beaches that many people thought should have taken place back in 2004. Good ideas take time.
People are worried about the army taking control as I have found out from my own family and friends in Australia
My reply to them was Phuket and Thailand is safer than its ever been for tourists and not to believe what they hear on the news and read in newspapers
Tourists will be back and more than ever before, just give it time to settle down and get back to normal with less people cheating tourists
Posted by peter Allen on August 20, 2014 09:16