The Phuket director of the Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT), Bangornrat Shinaprayoon told The Phuket News, “Victims of flooding in central Thailand, especially Bangkok, are coming to Phuket at this time.
“Some are staying with relatives but others are going to hotels, so the TAT have arranged with some hotels to offer them special prices.
“Hotels that have already joined the scheme include Chandara Resort & Spa, Sino Inn Phuket, Daeng Plaza Hotel, Rawai Palm Beach Resort, Woraburi Resort & Spa and the Pearl Hotel. I believe others will confirm soon,” she said.
However, demand from “flood refugees” may not be that great in Phuket, says Panu Maswongsa, Vice President of the Phuket Tourist Association (PTA).
He pointed out that Phuket is not as popular as Hua Hin or Pattaya, which are closer to Bangkok.
He also noted, “Most houses for rent in Phuket have contracts of at least six months and hotel prices are quite expensive, so I don’t expect evacuee to be a significant group of visitors to Phuket.”
Bhummikitti Ruktaengam, also a Vice President of the PTA, pointed out that it is not clear how many of the Thai tourists travelling to Phuket at the moment are actually flood evacuees.
“Phuket’s main tourists in the high season are from European countries, and flooding in Bangkok is not the primary reason they would like to visit Phuket,” he said.
Mr Bhummikitti warned that Phuket is being affected by factors that have nothing to do with the flooding.
“The period [tourists] are staying will be shorter than previously. Bali and Sri Lanka are increasingly becoming target destinations for European tourists because they are cheaper and have more natural beauty than Phuket.”
For more information about special hotel rates for flood refugees, contact the TAT Phuket at Tel 076 212 213.
–AFP Photo