Thai tourism authorities have made a fresh plea for the trade to push sales to the tsunami-hit Andaman coast as the area approaches peak season.
Latest reports state only 10% to 15% of coastal tourist amenities were damaged by the tidal wave, while the government has already begun putting early-warning systems in place, such as evacuation procedures for hotels, to cope with potential future disasters.
Top-level directors from Thailand’s tourism industry are in London to publicise next year’s celebrations to mark 60 years since the king’s ascension to the throne and drum up support for Phuket and Krabi, with the message the region is now back up and running.
Bookings to the Andaman coast have made a recovery since the Boxing Day tsunami but sales are yet to reach pre-tsunami levels.
From January to July this year, the UK remained the largest incoming market from Europe to Thailand, with 347,000 arrivals through Bangkok Airport. Figures for 2004 show UK visitors were up 15.35% year on year to 628,000.
Tourism Authority of Thailand deputy governor for international marketing Phornsiri Manoharn said: “We must now rebuild travel confidence to Phuket and the south of Thailand. People in Phuket rely heavily on tourism to live.
“Most beaches and resorts are back to normal, particularly in Phuket, and the infrastructure has been restored.”