Phuket wants big-spending tourist crowd
Published: 14/08/2010 at 12:00 AM
PHUKET : So-called high-end holiday makers will become the new target of the resort island's tourism industry, says the local tourism promotion body.
Bangornrat Shinaprayoon, director of the Phuket office of the Tourism Authority of Thailand, yesterday said Phuket was seeing a rise in numbers of this particular group of tourists.
At present, high-end tourists account for between 10% and 20% of the total number of tourists visiting Phuket, she said, adding that many of them travelled there by private yacht.
This group of big spenders always chooses to stay at hotels that can provide them with serenity, privacy, high security, great food, and premium relaxation services such as spas, said Ms Bangornrat.
The province's natural beauty is another major reason why tourists with high spending power chose to spend their leisure time in Phuket, she said.
The province was in May voted the Best Asian Maritime Capital by the Asia Boating Awards 2010 held in Hong Kong and it has continued to attract more affluent maritime travellers visiting on their private yachts, she said.
High-end tourists also come to Phuket to look after their health as there are private hospitals and premium spas.
High-end tourists also arrived in Phuket on private jets, said Phuris Maswongsa, president of the Phuket Tourism Business Association.
They come from parts of the world such as India and Arab countries, said Suchart Hirankanokkul, president of the southern hotel association.
The average hotel room booking rate for the whole province is at the moment between 50% and 60% while that at high-end hotels and resorts is about 70% on average, said Mr Suchart.
Hotels positioned as being high-end charge customers from 10,000 to 100,000 baht a night, he said. Most of these hotels are in tambon Choeng Thalay, tambon Karon, and on Kata beach.
Let's hope they also sort out some of the over-charging and rip-off's there.
