Phuket's Air Passenger Total Shows Island Continues to Appeal to Tourists

PHUKET: There's now a plus sign alongside the figure for arrivals and departures through Phuket International Airport. But that's just for October.

So 952,066 people arrived and departed through the island's rapidly changing airport last month, up 1.89 percent on the same month in the previous year. 

The total for the year to November 1, though, is 9,289,043, and that figure is -0.52 percent on the same 10 months in 2013. 

The total for international passenger arrivals and departures at 5,216,443 is precisely 0.00 up (or down) on last year, which may be why many people feel nothing is changing much. 

October's small increase followed four negative months, which is generally blamed on the military takeover on May 22. Plainly, the negative effect has not lasted. 

This high season, boosted by the Asian Beach Games in November and bizarrely by the 10th anniversary of the Indian Ocean tsunami in December, is likely to see a return to pluses.

By Phuketwan Reporter