Phuket’s tourism sector is experiencing a significant uptick during the long Vesak holiday weekend, with anticipated revenue surpassing 258 million baht. According to the Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) Phuket Office, the province is set to receive 42,721 domestic visitors from May 30 to June 1, generating approximately 258.35 million baht in tourism revenue. TAT acting director Sirivan Siharat noted that a recent survey of hotels, encompassing 30% of properties in key tourism areas, revealed an average occupancy rate of 69.42% and an average stay of 1.86 days, indicative of short-haul travel trends associated with long weekends. Vesak Day is observed on May 31, with June 1 recognized as the substitution day. Ms. Sirivan highlighted that local events, such as the ‘3 Districts 3 Runs’ activity held at Bang Wad Reservoir in Kathu district on Saturday, are driving demand by attracting families, health-conscious visitors, and runners from nearby regions. Additionally, Phuket International Airport is preparing for increased traffic, expecting 352 domestic flights and around 45,866 arriving passengers during this time, averaging 117 flights and 15,288 passengers each day. This positive outlook follows a robust start to 2026, with Phuket welcoming 4.9 million visitors from January to April, including 3.5 million international tourists and 1.3 million Thai travelers, alongside an average hotel occupancy rate of 81.85%. Key inbound markets include Russia, China, and India, as well as the United Kingdom, France, Germany, Australia, Kazakhstan, South Korea, and Malaysia. Air connectivity is set to grow, with numerous new and reinstated routes for the summer season, including services from Thai Lion Air and Thai Vietjet Air. Vietnam Airlines plans to initiate flights from Ho Chi Minh City to Phuket in July, while Virgin Atlantic will commence services from London Heathrow to Phuket in October. Ms. Sirivan concluded that the combination of events, enhanced flight capacity, and consistent international demand underpins Phuket’s ongoing recovery, with further growth anticipated in the latter half of the year.
Source: Bangkok Post
