Thailand’s popularity as an absolute destination goes from strength to strength. Last year, more than 22 million visitors came to the Land of Smiles, according to figures from the Government’s Ministry of Tourism and Sports.
That number jumped an impressive 15.9 per cent from figures from 2011, with more than 9.5 million of those visitors passing through Phuket International Airport, the country’s second largest airport, according to statistics released by the Tourism Authority of Thailand.
But what is it that actually brings tourists to destination clubs and resorts in Thailand, a country which is smaller than the American state of Texas?
According to a survey in the Phuket Gazette, a daily English newspaper found across Phuket where many of our destination clubs are based, the biggest reason for coming to the island is its ‘unique mix of natural beauty, beaches, nightlife and value for money’.
Almost half of the people (42.2 per cent) who answered the poll in the newspaper earlier this month said that they were not drawn to Phuket for any one reason – but that a mixture of lots of qualities brought them to the island located south of Bangkok in the Andaman Sea.
Meanwhile, a further 13.5 per cent said they came to holiday on Phuket for the nightlife offered in Patong, the island’s biggest party town.
Patong is the party capital of Phuket, a hot and hectic hub where travelers from all over the world congregate to have fun. The town is situated on the west coast of the island and boasts an enormous number of bars, nightclubs and hotels.
Other reasons given in the survey of why people consider Phuket amongst their absolute destinations include the island’s ‘natural beauty and the surrounding area’ (8.2 per cent), and its value for money (9.2 per cent). Surprisingly, only 6.3 per cent of those who answered the newspaper’s poll said they came to Phuket because of its beautiful beaches.
