The Phuket office of the Tourism Authority of Thailand says the upcoming vegetarian festival should generate around 3.4 billion baht in tourism revenue and bring around 200,000 visitors to the island. The festival kicks off on Sunday and will run until October 4.
Nantasiri Ronnasiri from the TAT’s Phuket division says a mix of Thai and foreign tourists will be a welcome boon for the island’s economy.
“We are expecting about 100,000 Thai tourists and 80,000 foreign tourists who will visit Phuket during this upcoming vegetarian festival. The average number is at 200,000 tourists. There will be 900 domestic flights and 500 international flights arriving in Phuket during the 9 days of the festival. This will generate about 3.4 billion baht.”
If her figures are correct, this will be welcome news for the island’s tourism operators. Nantasiri’s calculations include hotel and transportation spending, along with all other tourist spending.
Officials are hopeful this year’s festival will be a big one, as it is the first time it’s being allowed to take place in its full format since the start of the pandemic. Last year’s festival was a more scaled-back version due to Covid-19 restrictions in place at the time.
This year’s festivities will see a return to street dancing, food festivals, and mass gatherings and events, with officials hoping this will attract large numbers of foreign and Thai tourists.
SOURCE: The Phuket Express
