Submitted By: Anonymous on 2008-02-24
About the video: AndamanNews wrote: (put sound on max to hear properly or go to http://news.prd.go.th/news_detail.php?newsid=215858 where sound is OK)

Special Report for Andaman News TV11 (VHF dial) 8.30am + maybe FM90.5 Radio Thailand 6pm, both broadcast to Phang Nga, Krabi & Phuket provinces, FM108 Mazz Radio 7.30pm in Phuket & Phuket Cable TV Channel 1 at 7, 10.30 or 11pm, Wednesday 9th January 2008 & http://news.prd.go.th

During the past year of 2007, the increasing number of tourists arriving in the Andaman region came to around 5 million, including a significant number coming in by the large cruise ships to Phuket and the Andaman region. According to data in 2006, cruises, both small and large, which came to dock at the Phuket Deep Seaport brought in at least 142,000 tourists, not including the cruises that anchor at Patong Bay in the high season, probably adding about 200,000 to the number of tourists. The travelers by cruises are usually a high spending power group. Some argue that local hoteliers do not benefit from such groups, but related tourism and services businesses still benefit from the groups. These include golf courses, historical tours, spa, adventure tours, entertainment and car rent operators. This year, 2008, The Tourism Authority of Thailand expects regular visit sof leading cruise ships like SuperStar Virgo which brings in over 2,000 passengers every Tuesday and SuperStar Gemini which visits the island twice a month bringing in 400-500 passengers per trip.

According to the TAT Office Director in Phuket, Suwalai Pinpradap, from November last year which is the beginning of the Andaman region's tourist season, over 10 cruise ships brought in high end tourists from Europe, America to explore varieties of tourism products in the Andaman. " They are mostly luxurious cruise. This time is very good time for tourism in Phuket as travelers come in by plane by boat or cruise ships. When they are ashore they normally go sight seeing, shopping as Phuket has many modern shopping complex now with world standard spas, entertainment like Phuket Fantasea and restaurants." She also points out that during this time of the year, leading cruises are interested to visit Phuket. They include Royal Caribbean Cruise, Carnival Cruise Line from America and P&O cruise liner from Europe. They are mostly medium luxurious cruise companies to serve high end markets. All these factors are expected to boost local tourism in Phuket and even Andaman as a whole.