Hotel bookings for the upcoming high season are also over 90% full.
Speaking at Phuket Provincial Hall yesterday (Oct 30), Governor Sophon led discussions with leaders from provincial agencies under the Ministry of Interior and local administrative executives,
Governor Sophon highlighted Phuket’s successful focus on community tourism, particularly benefiting local economies, which brought in a large number of Thai and international visitors.
By the end of 2024, Phuket is expected to welcome over 14mn tourists, with income surpassing B400bn, he said.
According to the Tourism Authority of Thailand, more than 90% of hotel rooms across Phuket are booked for the high season, primarily by European tourists.
In October 2024, China ranked first in tourist numbers, followed by Russia and India. That trend is expected to continue.
Flight statistics show 4,642 international flights (mainly from Europe and East Asia) and 4,017 domestic flights for the month, Governor Sophon said.
NATIONAL BUMP
The country’s six main airports welcomed almost 120mn passengers in the previous fiscal year ending Sept 30 with air traffic on course to grow even further this current year, according to the Airports of Thailand (AoT).
The six airports operated by the AoT ‒ Suvarnabhumi, Don Mueang, Chiang Mai, Phuket, Fae Fah Luang in Chiang Rai and Krabi ‒ recorded 119.2mn passengers in the last fiscal year, up 19% from the same period the previous year, announced AoT President Kerati Kijmanawat.
Of those, 72.6mn were international arrivals, up 34.8%, and 46.6mn domestic passengers, up 1%, Mr Kerati noted, reports the Bangkok Post.
In terms of flights, the six airports handled a combined 732,690 flights or 14.5% more than in the previous fiscal year. Of these, 416,190 were international flights, up 29.3%, and 316,500 domestic flights, down 0.73%.
Mr Kerati said the authority expects to welcome 129.9mn visitors this current year, an 8.9% increase year on year, and receive more than 800,000 flights at the six airports.
For the 2024/2025 winter flights, Mr Kerati said that 370,239 are scheduled to arrive and depart from the six airports, an increase of 22.1% from the 2023/2024 season.
Of those, 222,780 will be international flights, a 33.1% increase on last year, with most of the inbound flights coming from China, Malaysia, India, Singapore and Hong Kong.
The rise in traffic is expected to bring in 23% more visitors during the current cool season, said Mr Kerati.
“The AoT is working to improve services [at the airports] as we strive for the title of world’s best flight operator,” Mr Kerati added.