PHUKET, Thailand – More than 10 tour companies in Phuket say a new restriction at Phuket International Airport is disrupting arrangements for welcoming Russian tourists arriving on charter flights, raising concerns about passenger confusion and the island’s image as an international holiday destination.
The operators say they have been allowed to rent temporary space inside the airport for more than 10 years, using small counters to check passenger lists and coordinate transfers to hotels. The desks were typically used for two to three hours while tour groups arrived.
Representatives said their companies handle charter flights carrying an average of 300 to 400 passengers each, with around 10 to 20 such flights arriving daily during the high season. Tour guides previously held company signs as passengers left the terminal, directed them to the temporary counters for name checks and then organized their boarding onto buses. They say the arrangement helped keep arrivals orderly, reduced confusion and prevented tourists from becoming separated from their groups.
However, operators were recently informed that the airport would no longer allow temporary counters to be set up. They said the decision followed a policy introduced by the new airport director, who previously worked at Chiang Mai International Airport, where similar counters are not used. The stated aim, according to the operators, is to maintain an orderly and attractive airport environment.
The change has affected more than 10 tour companies, which say they can no longer use the established meeting and passenger-checking system. They fear large groups arriving on charter flights could become confused or separated, making transfers more difficult to manage.
The representatives argued that Phuket’s international tourism role and the volume of charter arrivals require arrangements suited to local conditions. They said Russian visitors make an important contribution to the province’s tourism economy and claimed tour businesses bringing in charter passengers generate almost 10 billion baht in economic activity.
Operators also said airport officials had previously indicated that a meeting would be arranged to discuss a solution, but no meeting had taken place. They said the airport had maintained its position against allowing even small temporary desks.
More than 10 affected companies are now calling on Phuket airport management and relevant agencies to review the decision and hold discussions with the tourism sector. They want a practical arrangement that preserves airport order while allowing tour operators to coordinate arrivals efficiently during the approaching high season.
