Soaring travel costs to Phuket spark tourist backlash

The soaring cost of air travel to Phuket has sparked a backlash from local tourists, with low-cost carriers reportedly charging up to 14,000 baht (US$388) for a round trip from Bangkok. Despite making bookings weeks in advance, some travellers reported paying 5,000 baht (US$138) for a one-way ticket.

The president of the southern chapter of the Thai Hotels Association (THA), Suksit Suvunditkul, confirmed that both airfares and hotel prices in Phuket have been on a steady increase since the pandemic’s end.

According to Suksit, the rising prices can be attributed to the surge in demand during the ongoing high season, predominantly fuelled by foreign tourists, said Suksit.

“International tourists were unfazed by high prices as their trips were planned and booked in advance. The airfares are normally combined in the form of connecting flights from…