PHUKET: A record number of tourists came and went to Phuket last month with air passengers for the first two months of the year already 5.72 percent up on last year.
During February, 1,202,948 departures and arrivals were recorded at Phuket International Airport. That's an increase of 8.27 percent over the same month in 2014.
International passengers rose 4.01 percent to 694,949 while domestic travellers shot up 14.71 percent to 507, 999.
The tally for the first two months of the year so far is 2,412,513. That number is for arrivals and departures, so arrivals are approximately 1.2 million.
The continuing constant growth in tourist numbers provokes development that some fear is growing faster than Phuket's ability to establish infrastructure - and leading to a decline in the potential to sustain the region's natural beauty.
Phuketwan has suggested that all resort and retail developments in future on Phuket should provide their own water supply through ponds, lagoons or tanks and 20 percent of their power requirements.
Imposing an edict of that kind would make development on Phuket more expensive and probably slow it down.
It's plain that Phuket already has an oversupply of condominiums and that the resale value of all except the most luxurious properties on the holiday island has levelled out.
Resort owners with long experience have also called for a change in policy that brings fewer tourists, but a strategy that encourages visitors to stay longer and spend more.
The continuing rise in arrivals and departures through Phuket's airport indicates mass tourism is still in full swing.
During February, 1,202,948 departures and arrivals were recorded at Phuket International Airport. That's an increase of 8.27 percent over the same month in 2014.
International passengers rose 4.01 percent to 694,949 while domestic travellers shot up 14.71 percent to 507, 999.
The tally for the first two months of the year so far is 2,412,513. That number is for arrivals and departures, so arrivals are approximately 1.2 million.
The continuing constant growth in tourist numbers provokes development that some fear is growing faster than Phuket's ability to establish infrastructure - and leading to a decline in the potential to sustain the region's natural beauty.
Phuketwan has suggested that all resort and retail developments in future on Phuket should provide their own water supply through ponds, lagoons or tanks and 20 percent of their power requirements.
Imposing an edict of that kind would make development on Phuket more expensive and probably slow it down.
It's plain that Phuket already has an oversupply of condominiums and that the resale value of all except the most luxurious properties on the holiday island has levelled out.
Resort owners with long experience have also called for a change in policy that brings fewer tourists, but a strategy that encourages visitors to stay longer and spend more.
The continuing rise in arrivals and departures through Phuket's airport indicates mass tourism is still in full swing.
10 years ago, if you drove west coast Phuket between Kamala and airport, there was 10% concrete ( buildings) and 90% nature. Today there is 90% concrete, and just 10% nature left. That is what Phuket became. Sad. Why? Because no infrastructural planning. Everybody is just doing his own thing without thinking about Phuket's future.
Posted by Kurt on March 16, 2015 09:54