Phuket - normally buzzing on the Thai holiday island of Phuket at this time of year the Christmas business. It is high season, when Germany's long nights and days are gray. Million passengers fleeing in warmer realms such as Thailand. But this year everything is different. The political chaos of the occupation of the airports of Bangkok three weeks ago has the hoteliers on the first business verhagelt.
DPAPatong on Phuket: Thailand's beaches to slump
"Instead of the usual occupancy from 90 to 95 percent this season is one of the major hotels here is just 60 percent occupied, another 40", says Richard Valentine, Marketing Manager of the Dragon Art Media with several magazines on the island. Valentine hears these figures are confidential by its customers - no one wants to be out of the bad business to the large bell hanging.
The tourism association now has dared to first estimates: Three million visitors, which is actually in the peak season from December to March would come, probably made an arc around Thailand, said the president Kongkrit Hiranyakit. "We expect the tourists to Bali or Malaysia swerve," the newspaper quoted him "nation". Loss of revenue: about 2.2 billion euros.
From January large Special actions
When the demonstrators regierungsfeindlichen the Bangkok airport late November and images of the occupied chaotic scenes around the world fell, broke the business. Guests who Phuket via Bangkok to fly wanted stranded, while others joined their did not even travel to. Many tour operators booked their guests in other countries.
Phuket to wait many hoteliers, whether the season is still recovering, says Valentine. From mid-January he expects big Extraordinary actions. Not everyone can afford the luxury but, with empty rooms through the main season to go. "Some hotels have been booked per night a night free to guests who came to a renewal of their leave to move. Others let the guests on their costs breakfast," he reported.
In some hotels have rooms despite Christmas period at prices as in the off-season to have for 1000 to 1400 baht (up to 30 euros) instead of the usual order this season from 4000 to 5000 baht (up to 105 euros). One who benefited is Günter von Grotthus from Berlin. He booked at the popular beach of Patong on the west coast of the island the same room as a year ago - at half the price and now even with free breakfast. "Life is great here," he wrote in the letter to the Phuket Gazette. "
Even taxi drivers are feeling the slowdown. Accustomed to the often one or even several ride from the airport to the hotel lush fixed prices to get Buhler now, many with ever-lower prices for the guests. Some taxi drivers still jumps at the bus station in the coaches to lure customers before they are out.
Large chains are more affected by the slump
Tourism is the main source of income on Phuket. The indigenous population of 350,000 in the year receives more than 4.5 million tourists. Half of which comes from Europe, and from the Europeans is almost one in ten German.
Phuket after the devastating tsunami four years ago already a severe slump experienced visitors. But the industry bounced back surprisingly quickly. Awaits Achariyachai the Pamuk, head of the hotel chain Kata Group and former president of the Tourism Association of Phuket this time "I've been in business for 30 years, and I believe the industry will go through because," he says. Given the favorable exchange rates and prices, which now would be offered, whether it be cheaper for many Europeans, according to Phuket to travel than in their home country holiday.
His Kata Beach Resort was 80 to 90 percent occupied. Even Nello Benussi, marketing director of the elegant Iceland Phi Phi Village Beach Resort reported 90 percent occupancy in December. "We do not need to offer discounts," he says. Hotels like these have many regulars and rely on individual tourists. Are affected by the slump rather larger chains, the flat-rate contracts with tour operators and large groups bring.
The tourists who are on the beach of Phuket in those days having fun, enjoying the holidays in the sun untarnished. "Where else can you 10 to 20 euros a day to live, may at any time to swim to the beach and go with the best in massages pampered?" said a longtime expert Phuket.
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