Tourism in Thailand's Phuket Island hit a record high during the New Year festival, which is believed to have generated more than 500 million Baht (about 12.2 million U. S. dollars) in revenue.

According to Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) officials, occupancy at hotels along beaches and in the city of Phuket during the long New Year's weekend was up to 90 percent. Tourists at in- city hotels were mainly Thais, while foreign holiday makers, mainly Europeans, mostly chose accommodation near beaches.

Estimated revenue generated during the festive new year celebration in the resort island was expected to exceed 500 million Baht (about 12.2 million U.S. dollars), said Suvalai Pinpradab, head of the TAT office in Phuket.

However, she said, after the new year festival the hotel occupancy rate in Phuket might be down to 70 percent for nearly a month before it will bounce back again during February-March, and the high rate occupancy will last until the rainy low season.

"The overall picture of Phuket tourism has improved, much better than last year when it was badly affected by the tsunami," she was quoted by the Thai News Agency as saying.

But she predicted low key tourism throughout the year in Phangnga, worst-hit of the tsunami-affected provinces, with the expected hotel occupancy rate at 25 percent due to incomplete reconstruction of hotels and resorts damaged by last year's disaster.

"Tourism in Phangnga in 2006 will not be much different from last year because many hotels remain under construction and restoration after the tsunami," she said. "Most tourists visiting the province this year are those who come to commemorate the tsunami."

But the Golden Supannahong Awards -- the annual Thai Films Festival to be held in Phangnga next year -- will help publicize the province's tourist attractions.

Tourism in Phuket will be more buoyant in 2007 as some 3,000 hotel rooms would be ready to serve visitors, up from the 1,200 rooms available now, according to the TAT official.

Source: Xinhua