Aussies top tourist arrivals in Phuket

More Australians than any other nationality visited Phuket during the first three quarters of 2007.

Once all figures have been added up, totals are expected to exceed five million tourists; the greatest percentage of foreign tourists being Aussies.

Figures for the first three quarters of 2007 in Phuket, announced at a meeting at Phuket Provincial Hall, saw Australia with 275,275 tourists; the UK with 212,884; and Korea 164,283.

Next came China, Sweden, Germany, Japan, Russia, Malaysia and the US, respectively, for the top-ten list.

Total foreign visitors for the same period were 3,499,158, which indicated an annual total of over five million tourist arrivals; the first time five million has been surpassed.

Vice-President of the Phuket Tourist Association (PTA), Bhuritt Maswongsa, said that tourists to Phuket had generated as much as 70 billion baht in revenue.

Khun Bhuritt said that Phuket tourism promotion (roadshows) to Australia, the UK, Japan and Russia in 2006 was partly responsible for the added growth.

India, China and the Middle East will be targeted by roadshows in 2008, which the PTA acknowledges as important tourist sources during the low season.

The actual statistics for tourist arrivals to Phuket for 2007 will be officially released by the TAT towards the end of February.