TWO of Phuket's key hoteliers have signalled their belief that Friday's court verdict on the wealth of former PM Thaksin Shinawatra will have little effect on the island.

Both remain optimistic about the improving outlook for Phuket tourism in 2010.

Robert Lohrmann, Vice President and General Manager of the JW Marriott Phuket Resort & Spa at the northern beach of Mai Khao, told Phuketwan: ''The business environment is very encouraging with all market segments improving against last year. The general occupancies are quite healthy in the first quarter of the year.''


Q: How will you deal with the coming low season? Will you lay off staff?

A: We expect the summer season to also be good for Phuket resorts and we are exploring new emerging markets from Russia, India, the Middle East. There is also renewed confidence across the MICE segments of our business with good support from traditional short haul source markets being Hong Kong and Singapore.

Mr Lohrmann's optimism was reflected in the south of the island, where Andrew A. Swatdipakdi, General Manager of the Kata Beach Resort and Spa at Kata-Karon, said business was ''much better'' than last year so far. There would be no staff lay-offs.

While the political situation had done no harm, he did say that when it came to local affairs, ''the tuk-tuk and taxis portray a negative image for the island.''

The Marriott, with 265 rooms, has just celebrated its eighth anniversary while the Kata Beach Resort and Spa has been operating for more than 20 years and has 275 rooms.