PHUKET, Thailand — Phuket’s tourism sector has shown strong growth in early 2025, welcoming more than 5.8 million visitors and generating over 223 billion baht in revenue from January to May, according to the Phuket Tourism Authority and local industry representatives.
During a July 9 briefing at the Phuket Provincial Hall, Kamonpan Chalermsakulrat, Deputy Director of the Phuket Tourism Authority, revealed that tourist arrivals reached 5,859,022 — a 3.14% increase from the same period last year. Domestic tourists numbered 1,591,817 (up 6.73%) while international arrivals totaled 4,267,205 (up 1.86%). Total tourism revenue hit 223.77 billion baht, rising 5.19% compared to the previous year. Average spending per visitor trip stood at 38,192 baht.
In June alone, hotel occupancy averaged 62.63%, with visitors spending an average of 3.24 days. The month saw 1,713,776 visits generating 35.51 billion baht in revenue. The top ten foreign visitor markets were India, Russia, China, Australia, Malaysia, Singapore, Saudi Arabia, the UK, the US, and South Korea.
Phuket International Airport handled 7,062 flights and 1,064,131 passengers in June, including 317,346 international travelers and 216,083 domestic passengers.
Looking ahead to the Buddhist holidays from July 10-13, Phuket expects nearly 200,000 visitors generating almost 2.9 billion baht, with hotel occupancy forecasted at around 60%.
The province has also seen increasing interest from American tourists, with ongoing efforts to strengthen tourism links. Upcoming events between July and August include the Phuket Health Expo 2025, Phuket Lobster Festival 2025, and the SIP & SURF: BEACH BREAK surfing championship at Kamala Beach (July 25-27). A new eco-tourism initiative, Coral College, will launch on July 24, featuring activities and giveaways at Chalong Bay.
From August 14-17, the Asia-Link Sketchwalk Phuket 2025 will bring 777 artists from 26 countries to create artworks around Laem Phromthep, Phuket Old Town, and Kathu District, culminating in exhibitions and forums as part of the Thailand Biennale Phuket 2025.
Phuket Tourism Association President Thanet Tantipiriyakit highlighted the success of the Phuket Roadshow in South Korea in June, leading to an increase of direct flights between Seoul and Phuket to four daily flights in August. This expansion aims to attract family travelers, honeymooners, and golfers year-round. In addition, roadshows in the CIS region, including Uzbekistan and Kazakhstan, have fostered new tourism growth from those markets. Kazakhstan alone accounts for approximately 150,000 annual visitors to Phuket, many traveling with family and encouraging friends to visit.
During the green season, European visitors from the UK, Germany, and France have increased, supported by new flights such as the Paris-Phuket route. Although Chinese visitor numbers dropped by 50%, Indian tourists have grown by 50%, with many preferring Patong Beach and vegetarian cuisine, influencing local business offerings.
Hotel bookings for the upcoming high season appear strong, particularly for hotel chains, though global economic uncertainty remains a concern. Phuket tourism revenue is projected to grow 10% this year, potentially reaching between 400 to 500 billion baht.
Phuket Governor Sopon Suwannarat expressed the province’s focus on attracting high-spending, quality tourists, including from Kazakhstan and the recovering Chinese market. He noted ongoing talks to open new direct flight routes from China and initiatives to foster educational and cultural exchanges in line with the 50th anniversary of diplomatic relations between Thailand and China in 2025. Governor Sopon observed a growing presence of Chinese family tourists on flights to Phuket, signaling a positive outlook for the return of this key market.
