PHUKET: With quality not quantity becoming the trumpet call for Thailand's tourism, Phuket International Airport continues to capture record numbers of flight passengers.
Which Q are most of these? Because of lower fares and competition among resorts, it's a safe bed that quantity is still trumping quality.
In January, arrivals and departures through the holiday island's air facility reached 1,209,565 - a new record that was 3.29 percent up on the same month the previous year.
Airports of Thailand derives more revenue from quantity so the aim of Phuket's main piece of infrastructure is always going to be at odds with tourism's best interests.
Property developers also want quantity to sell the condos that continue to march aimlessly across the island. Buying for investment is a fool's strategy, though, with so much new product on the market.
Falling-down houses in Phuket City are now being offered for sale for millions of baht above their true value as faint hopes of buyers with more money than sense delude some Phuket residents.
Banks continue to lend extraordinary sums then help the boosters to produce false dreams by publishing figures about the numbers of tourists coming to the island that are as false as the dreams.
Sustainability? That still doesn't get much of a look-in.
The day may have already passed when Phuket had a perfect balance between nature and greed. But sadly, nobody said ''Stop!''
January's figures, though, show that the doomsayers may have to wait a while. There were a total of 688,968 international passenger trips, down 1.47 percent, with 520,597 domestic trips, up 10.36 percent.
Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) governor Thawatchai Arunyik is urging the government and authorities to promote new destinations among international tourists to relieve congestion at popular places such as Phuket, Pattaya, Chiang Mai, Bangkok and Krabi.
But at what point will the ''No Vacancy'' sign go up? On Phuket that point may have already been passed.
The problem has been caused by a surge in arrivals that has outpaced infrastructure and social progress, with the result that taxi and tuk-tuk fares remain one of Phuket's blackest marks, along with jet-ski scams.
High prices for transport and food and drink are likely to slow Phuket's increasing popularity. Phuketwan paid 80 baht this week for a young coconut and sat in a Patong beach cafe where the smell of urine rose unmistakably.
We anticipate increasing social issues as numbers of tourists grow, along with the competition to get rich quick.
Prices, infrastructure. Phuket has only its own lack of care and its commitment to greed to blame.
What should be remembered is that the boom in Phuket tourism has been very rapid. It cannot continue, despite what the boosters say.
About 5.5 million passengers arrived and departed in 2007, rising to top seven million in 2010. In 2011, the figure topped 8.4 million
In January 2012, arrivals and departures topped one million in a month for the first time while the total for the year topped 9.5 million. Extraordinary growth followed.
By 2013, that number hit 11.3 million, reaching slightly higher at 11.4 million again in 2014.
Which Q are most of these? Because of lower fares and competition among resorts, it's a safe bed that quantity is still trumping quality.
In January, arrivals and departures through the holiday island's air facility reached 1,209,565 - a new record that was 3.29 percent up on the same month the previous year.
Airports of Thailand derives more revenue from quantity so the aim of Phuket's main piece of infrastructure is always going to be at odds with tourism's best interests.
Property developers also want quantity to sell the condos that continue to march aimlessly across the island. Buying for investment is a fool's strategy, though, with so much new product on the market.
Falling-down houses in Phuket City are now being offered for sale for millions of baht above their true value as faint hopes of buyers with more money than sense delude some Phuket residents.
Banks continue to lend extraordinary sums then help the boosters to produce false dreams by publishing figures about the numbers of tourists coming to the island that are as false as the dreams.
Sustainability? That still doesn't get much of a look-in.
The day may have already passed when Phuket had a perfect balance between nature and greed. But sadly, nobody said ''Stop!''
January's figures, though, show that the doomsayers may have to wait a while. There were a total of 688,968 international passenger trips, down 1.47 percent, with 520,597 domestic trips, up 10.36 percent.
Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) governor Thawatchai Arunyik is urging the government and authorities to promote new destinations among international tourists to relieve congestion at popular places such as Phuket, Pattaya, Chiang Mai, Bangkok and Krabi.
But at what point will the ''No Vacancy'' sign go up? On Phuket that point may have already been passed.
The problem has been caused by a surge in arrivals that has outpaced infrastructure and social progress, with the result that taxi and tuk-tuk fares remain one of Phuket's blackest marks, along with jet-ski scams.
High prices for transport and food and drink are likely to slow Phuket's increasing popularity. Phuketwan paid 80 baht this week for a young coconut and sat in a Patong beach cafe where the smell of urine rose unmistakably.
We anticipate increasing social issues as numbers of tourists grow, along with the competition to get rich quick.
Prices, infrastructure. Phuket has only its own lack of care and its commitment to greed to blame.
What should be remembered is that the boom in Phuket tourism has been very rapid. It cannot continue, despite what the boosters say.
About 5.5 million passengers arrived and departed in 2007, rising to top seven million in 2010. In 2011, the figure topped 8.4 million
In January 2012, arrivals and departures topped one million in a month for the first time while the total for the year topped 9.5 million. Extraordinary growth followed.
By 2013, that number hit 11.3 million, reaching slightly higher at 11.4 million again in 2014.
OK this article clearly proves, that this January had been the best month for tourism ever. Locals with other experiences are just greedy doomsayers.
Posted by Sherlock on February 19, 2015 13:50
Editor Comment:
If you say so, Sherlock.