Phuket eyes US$1.6b revenue

Phuket eyes US$1.6b revenue

BANGKOK (DPA): Benefiting from the downturn in tourism to
Bali, Thailand's Phuket island resort is expected to attract
almost 4 million visitors this year, generating some US$1.6
billion in revenues, news reports said on Sunday.

According to the Thai Farmers Bank Research Center, Phuket has
benefited from the uncertain political situation in Indonesia
during the first half of this year, which scared many
international tourists away from Bali, said The Nation
television.

Bali has traditionally been the main regional rival for Phuket
resort, a Thai island-province in the Andaman Sea situated about
600 kilometers south of Bangkok.

Based on mid-year arrival figures, the banks' research center
predicted that altogether some 3.8 million tourists will visit
Phuket this year, earning the province 70 billion baht ($1.6
billion) in revenues.