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.