PHUKET: Occupancy rates at Phuket resorts were strong in September, latest statistics from the Thai Hotels Association (Southern Chapter) reveal.
With high season just weeks away - November 1 or December 1, depending on individual allegiance - the average occupancy for September for resorts in all categories stood at 74.02 percent.
Four-stars and three-stars are perhaps showing the benefits of Phuket's continuing popularity the most, with three-stars averaging 82.1 percent and four-stars at 80.00 percent.
Five-stars? Well, Things could be better. At 59.76 percent, there was room for improvement.
Back in October last year, five-star occupancy was riding higher at 66 percent, a figure that could be exceeded if the coming high season delivers its promise.
In October 2011, four-star occupancy rose to 74.41 percent while three-stars rated 67.86 percent.
Those figures were all considerable improvements on the equivalent month in 2010.
And if October 2012 delivers to the same degree as September, the debate about whether high season begins on November 1 or December 1 will probably be rekindled.
In the''good old days'' at the turn of the century, Phuket high seasons began in November. The season was only forshortened because the figures for November crept below high season standards.
With that no longer the case as far as occupancy goes (if not so clearly for revenue), a case could be made again for Phuket's high season extending from November 1 to April 30.
With high season just weeks away - November 1 or December 1, depending on individual allegiance - the average occupancy for September for resorts in all categories stood at 74.02 percent.
Four-stars and three-stars are perhaps showing the benefits of Phuket's continuing popularity the most, with three-stars averaging 82.1 percent and four-stars at 80.00 percent.
Five-stars? Well, Things could be better. At 59.76 percent, there was room for improvement.
Back in October last year, five-star occupancy was riding higher at 66 percent, a figure that could be exceeded if the coming high season delivers its promise.
In October 2011, four-star occupancy rose to 74.41 percent while three-stars rated 67.86 percent.
Those figures were all considerable improvements on the equivalent month in 2010.
And if October 2012 delivers to the same degree as September, the debate about whether high season begins on November 1 or December 1 will probably be rekindled.
In the''good old days'' at the turn of the century, Phuket high seasons began in November. The season was only forshortened because the figures for November crept below high season standards.
With that no longer the case as far as occupancy goes (if not so clearly for revenue), a case could be made again for Phuket's high season extending from November 1 to April 30.
