Phuket Tourist Association President Thaneth Tantipiriyakit said the overall tourism outlook looks promising, reports the Bangkok Post.
He cited the rise in direct international flights ‒ including a possible increase from China ‒ as a positive sign for the end of the year.
Association members say advance bookings for November to January are robust, with high demand from both European and Asian markets.
Occupancy rates across the island are expected to average about 90%, similar to last year.
Mr Thaneth said performance in the first seven months of this year is already approaching 2019 levels before the pandemic.
He said both the private sector and the Tourism Authority of Thailand are urging the government to focus not merely on visitor numbers but on attracting quality tourists.
Indicators such as the length of stay among European and Asian travellers have shown a big improvement.
Mr Thaneth said tourism revenue is projected at B550bn this year ‒ a 10% increase from the B498bn earned last year.
By July, earnings had already surpassed B290bn, leaving a further B200bn within reach.
He acknowledged that visitor numbers are unlikely to exceed 2019 levels due to Phuket’s infrastructure constraints.
He warned that overcrowding could undermine the island’s appeal as a destination for health and wellness travel while also affecting local residents.
Mr Thaneth also expressed gratitude to the police for addressing traffic bottlenecks on Thepkrasattri Rd, the island’s main north-south artery.
Measures included closing U-turn points and intersections.
While such changes disrupted daily routines, testing data from police suggested that travel from Phuket Town to the airport between 9am and 3pm now takes about 40 minutes, Mr Thaneth said.