FORECASTS of three times the number of tourists coming to Phuket within 10 years are, on current projections, not far-fetched. February overseas arrivals and departures through overcrowded Phuket International Airport show a year-on-year increase of 25.10 percent.
The figures confirm that Phuket's air gateway continues to operate under stress, with some departing passengers heading for neighboring countries forced to endure delays longer than their flights.
The total of 1,876,466 international passengers coming and going between October and February - Phuket's pre-high and peak high season - was 31.46 percent up on the previous comparable period.
The total number - 3,633,411 - is only 14.15 percent up because domestic passenger numbers are virtually static. The Phuket boom is purely catering for overseas travellers.
International passenger arrivals and departures through Phuket in January also surged by 29.61 percent, so 2011 has started by appearing likely to burst the 2010 record tally of 7,043,783 total passengers. The 7,043,783 figure compared with 5,779,918 for 2009.
Overall in 2010, international arrivals and departures by air on Phuket were up by a massive 45.90 percent. The surge continues to swell. So do the obstructions in accessing or exiting Phuket airport.
The tally of 843,877 passengers in February arrived or departed on 4965 flights. It is believed 5000 flights a month would represent a new milestone for Phuket.
International flights in February surpassed domestic flights, and international passenger numbers also surpassed domestic numbers - something that rarely happens.
Whether Phuket could cope with passenger numbers trebling in the next 10 years rests with Airports of Thailand, which has yet to confirm a starting date for the 5.8 billion baht expansion of the airport that could take the maximum number of Phuket passengers to 12.5 million or even 15 million by 2014.
On a visit to Phuket last year, the President of Airports of Thailand, Serirat Prasutanond, said that the expansion of Phuket airport would be finished by March, 2014. This forecast was based on construction beginning in January 2011.
Phuket 'Triple Tourism' Boom Needs Strategy, Says MPThe figures confirm that Phuket's air gateway continues to operate under stress, with some departing passengers heading for neighboring countries forced to endure delays longer than their flights.
The total of 1,876,466 international passengers coming and going between October and February - Phuket's pre-high and peak high season - was 31.46 percent up on the previous comparable period.
The total number - 3,633,411 - is only 14.15 percent up because domestic passenger numbers are virtually static. The Phuket boom is purely catering for overseas travellers.
International passenger arrivals and departures through Phuket in January also surged by 29.61 percent, so 2011 has started by appearing likely to burst the 2010 record tally of 7,043,783 total passengers. The 7,043,783 figure compared with 5,779,918 for 2009.
Overall in 2010, international arrivals and departures by air on Phuket were up by a massive 45.90 percent. The surge continues to swell. So do the obstructions in accessing or exiting Phuket airport.
The tally of 843,877 passengers in February arrived or departed on 4965 flights. It is believed 5000 flights a month would represent a new milestone for Phuket.
International flights in February surpassed domestic flights, and international passenger numbers also surpassed domestic numbers - something that rarely happens.
Whether Phuket could cope with passenger numbers trebling in the next 10 years rests with Airports of Thailand, which has yet to confirm a starting date for the 5.8 billion baht expansion of the airport that could take the maximum number of Phuket passengers to 12.5 million or even 15 million by 2014.
On a visit to Phuket last year, the President of Airports of Thailand, Serirat Prasutanond, said that the expansion of Phuket airport would be finished by March, 2014. This forecast was based on construction beginning in January 2011.
Latest Phuket MP Tossaporn Thepabutr believes tourism to Phuket will triple in 10 years, and urgent attention needs to be paid to educating workers to deal with the island's growth boom.
Phuket 'Triple Tourism' Boom Needs Strategy, Says MP
Phuket Crush as Delays Hamper Airport Expansion
Latest Doubts are rising about the capacity of Phuket airport to increase with tourism traffic as people inside and outside Airports of Thailand begin to wonder when an upgrade will start.
Phuket Crush as Delays Hamper Airport Expansion
Airport Flight Jams Taint Phuket Tourism's Future
News Analysis Getting on a flight to Singapore that lasts just 100 minutes can take passengers as long as 90 minutes to negotiate several queues outside and inside Phuket International Airport.
Airport Flight Jams Taint Phuket Tourism's Future
Phuket Traffic Record Brings Airport Expansion Doubts
Latest Phuket's air passenger numbers continue to fly higher but doubts are now mounting about the capacity of the airport to continue to deliver higher numbers and expand simultaneously.
Phuket Traffic Record Brings Airport Expansion Doubts
Arrival and departure from Phuket International Airport are for all passengers travelling mostly to the three southern provinces of Phuket, Phang-Nga and Krabi.
Many tourists coming through Phuket International airport will not spend one-Baht in Phuket and will go straight to Khao Lak or Krabi beaches.
Posted by Whistle-Blower on March 7, 2011 16:19