THEPHUKETNEWS.COM
FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 9, 2016
thephuketnews thephuketnews1 thephuketnews.com
Friday, September 9 – Thursday, September 15, 2016
Since 2011 / Volume VI / No. 37
20 Baht
PATONG GETS BANGLA CCTV AT BOMB SITE > PAGE 2
RUSSIANS ROLL BACK GROWTH IN TOURIST ARRIVALS BRINGS HOPE, BUT THEY ARE SMARTER SPENDERS
A
resurgence in the number of Russian tourists coming to Phuket has piqued hopes for a Russian revival pumping muchneeded life-blood back into Phuket’s critical tourism industry. Fuelling the interest in the revitalised tourist source market are more than six consecutive months
of over 20 per cent growth year-onyear in the number of arrivals from Russia, and the fact that the “new” Russians are spending more. Phuket is experiencing two trends: a short term spike in the number of Russians tourists arriving on cheap package tours (see The Phuket News, Sept 2 issue), but also an undercurrent of longer-term growth that began six months ago where the focus is on the growing trend for more, higher-spending
Russian tourists making their way to Phuket. The Ministry of Tourism and Sports (MoT) reported 599,140 travellers from Russia visited Thailand in January-July, up 19.39% from same period last year. In July alone the arrivals from Russia grew 20.02%, nearly doubling the average growth rate of 10.85% recorded by MoT. “The increase in the number of Russian tourists this year is unde-
CONTINUED ON PAGE 2
@thephuketnews
niable, and the number of charter flights to Phuket is increasing,” notes Sathirapong Na Takuatoong, President of Phuket Tourist Association. “The Russians coming now are different from the mass tourism Russians who came two years ago,” Mr Sathirapong said. However, while the new arrivals are spending more on their holidays, they are more selective about what they spend their money on and are seeking out fair value...
PAGE 3
Tourist suffers broken spine in vile sex attack
LIFE
PAGE 19
Phuket’s first Consul-General
SPORT
Tourists arrive at Phuket Airport, loaded for their holiday. Photo: Tanyaluk Sakoot
Anton Makhrov & Tanyaluk Sakoot editor@classactmedia.co.th
NEWS
PAGE 40
Another topsyturvey season for Phuket FC