Phuket set to make Bt1 billion from New Year tourism

PHUKET: -- The southern resort island of Phuket expects to make over Bt1 billion from the tourism sector over the New Year holiday period, the director of the Tourism Authority of Thailand’s southern region office revealed today.

Mrs. Suwalai Pinpradap said that tourists would be attracted by the huge number of activities over the New Year period, including a countdown to the New Year outside Central Department store, a food festival, music, fireworks or hot air balloons.

The highlight of the festivities will come on the night of 31 December, with a show entitled ‘Happiness on Earth’.

Expressing confidence that a huge number of visitors would flock to the island over the holiday season, with many hotels fully booked from 15 December to 15 January, she said that the island hoped to gain around Bt1 billion in tourism revenue over the New Year. Most of the visitors, she added, were tourists from Europe.

--TNA 2004-12-19