PHUKET: Direct arrivals to Phuket from Mainland China have reached 74,766 visitors in July, showing an impressive 70% growth compared to June, according to the most recent report by the Phuket office of the Immigration Bureau. The overall volume of Chinese tourists is even higher, as the report only includes tourists passing passport clearance at Phuket International Airport and doesn’t include those making a stop in Bangkok before proceeding to the island.
The 74,766 visitors from China show impressive growth compared to the previous months: March – 45,147 visitors; April – 46,697; May – 37,949; June – 44,066.
As reported by Phuket Immigration today (Aug 4), arrivals from other top source markets did not show any drastic changes compared to June. The main suppliers of tourists for the island in July were:
- China – 74,766 (vs 44,066 in June);
- Russia – 35,521 (vs 25,947);
- Australia – 24,761 (vs 21,902);
- India – 17,224 (vs 20,223);
- Hong Kong – 13,817 (vs 15,234 from Singapore).
A total of 320,264 arriving international passengers passed through Phuket Immigration counters at the airport in July compared to 248,325 in June, meaning a 29% surge in direct arrivals from abroad.
Not fully satisfied with the pace of the recovery, Thai tourism operators have already urged the authorities to reintroduce a visa fee waiver scheme for Indians and Chinese to boost arrivals from these two countries. The call has been publicly supported by Marisa Sukosol Nunbhakdi, President of the Thai Hotels Association (PHA), and Sisdivachr Cheewarattanaporn, President of the Association of Thai Travel Agents (ATTA).
Mr Sisdivachr said that once the government is formed, it should immediately introduce the visa fee waiver scheme for at least three months, as seen in 2014 and 2018, Bangkok Post reported earlier this week.
Foreign crime report
Having already outnumbered Russians in terms of arrivals, Chinese nationals are still only second in the ranking of foreign nationals being screened in the ongoing ’Crime-free Phuket’ campaign conducted by Phuket Immigration.
According to the ’Phuket Overstay Report’ released on Aug 4, a total of 321 addresses were checked by Phuket Immigration officers in July (compared to 586 in June), and 553 foreign nationals were screened for possible immigration-related violations (compared to 867 in June).
The top five nationalities in terms of screening were as follows:
- Russia – 260 people;
- Myanmar – 94;
- China – 71;
- UK – 57;
- France – 37.
A total of 17 foreigners were arrested and prosecuted in July for various violations related to Phuket Immigration (compared to 30 in June), according to the report.
Among those were eight cases of Immigration Act violations (including five cases of overstay and two cases of illegal entry into the country), one case of fraud, one case of illegal firearm possession, and three cases of illegal entry.
Additionally, four foreign nationals were arrested on outstanding warrants, which usually include people on Interpol’s ’Red List’ as well.
There were 23 cases of Immigration Act breach including 14 cases of overstay processed by Phuket Immigration in June.
