Phuket cashes in as tourists return

According to Ms Tipanan, Chon Buri ranked second with B13bn while Surat Thani placed third with B7bn in tourism income, reports the Bangkok Post.

Phuket also ranked first in terms of most foreign visitors, with nearly 2.4 million international tourists arriving on the island from January to October, followed by Chon Buri (975,026 visitors), and Surat Thani (606,812 visitors).

The poll showed that most tourists visiting Thailand this year came from Malaysia, India, Singapore, Laos, and Vietnam, respectively.

“The country, led by Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha, recently welcomed its 10 millionth foreign visitor at Suvarnabhumi airport,” said Ms Tipanan. “According to this online survey, people can sense our success from the Sandbox scheme as they see more tourists choosing Thailand as their [holiday] destination.

“The government has also put in place measures encouraging movie productions to use the country as one of their scouting locations. It has also implemented extension-of-stay measures for expats to assist with the recovery of tourism, similar to the Sandbox scheme,” she said.

At least 20mn people are expected to visit Thailand next year, according to Ms Tipanan.

In other news, Thailand’s aviation industry has devised a survival strategy to support the country’s rapidly reviving, and growing, tourism industry.

Suvadhana Sibunruang, the acting CEO of Thai Airways (THAI), said the airline plans to recruit at least 1,000 more ground staff to help improve passenger service times.

He said passengers should receive their luggage within 30 minutes over the New Year holiday.

Meanwhile, the international airport in Chiang Mai will welcome four new direct routes from three carriers next year, according to Natthawut Ta-inta, the airport’s deputy director of operations, on Thursday.

Chiang Mai International Airport welcomed 21,000 to 23,000 passengers a day this year.