PHUKET: The resort island is anticipated to receive about 264, 350 visitors during the Songkran holiday this year, generating at least seven billion baht in revenue, according to the Tourism Authority of Thailand’s ( TAT ) forecast.
The area is expected to experience higher levels of gridlock during the Thai New Year holiday from April 12 to 16, Lertchai Wangtrakuldee, director of Phuket’s Invoice company, said on Wednesday
Despite being in its lower tourist season, hotel orders have already reached almost 80 % power. According to the company’s study of 2, 069 hotel tests, the ownership rate stands at 78.56 % of a total of 111, 427 bedrooms, with each guest staying an average of five times.
The projected 264, 350 readers to Paradise during Songkran are expected to spend an average of 6, 625 ringgit per day, generating 7.04 billion ringgit for the common toursist place, Mr Lertchai said.
Among foreign visitors, Russian travelers are the largest party, with at least 5, 000 visitors a day, followed by Chinese tourists as the next largest party, with about 2, 000 readers daily.
There has also been an increase in visitors from the European market, especially Germany, England and Kazakhstan, he said.
However, he noted that the number of Indian visitors has decreased as some people have chosen to travel nearby, such as Krabi.
The TAT anticipates a rise in Middle Eastern arrivals and a rise in domestic visitors during Songkran due to lower travel costs in April.
Regarding the island’s Songkran activities, Mr. Lertchai stated that ceremonies and events will take place at numerous locations, including Pa Tong Beach, Phuket Old Town, and Saphan Hin Bridge.
Thanet Tantipiriyakit, president of the Phuket Tourist Association ( PTA ), said that Songkran is expected to help increase the number of visitors to Phuket, especially from the domestic market.
Everyone is required to follow the law, regardless of nationality or country of origin, in light of recent news reports about misbehaving foreigners and locals on the island.
A traffic police officer was seriously injured last week by two New Zealand tourists who were in Phuket’s Muang district.
On Wednesday, five foreigners were arrested and gambling chips worth over 600, 000 baht seized during a raid on house in Phuket.