Despite warnings by three major tourist-providing countries warning their nationals from traveling to Thailand due to the risk of civil unrest, tourism businesses in the southern resort of Phuket is booming with no hotel room cancellations, Somboon Jirayus, president of Phuket Tourist Association, said on Sunday.

Mr. Somboon said hotel occupancy in Phuket is about 80 per cent on average and is expected to drop to 70 per cent in March.

Warnings by the United States, Britain and Australia issued Friday saying that the political situation in Thailand is tense and their citizens should exercise great caution and avoid demonstrations or large gatherings that might turn violent while in Thailand have not impacted tourism businesses here, Mr. Somboon said.

Foreign tourists can now fly directly to Phuket and those who have visited the island earlier understand that it is far way from protesters against the government, he said.

Political tensions are growing in Thailand, especially in capital Bangkok, as a court is scheduled to deliver its verdict this Friday on whether or not to seize ousted premier Thaksin Shinawatra’s Bt76 billion in frozen assets.

Representatives of the Phuket Tourist Association will set up a booth at Germany’s leading travel trade show in mid-March, aimed at attracting more German tourists to visit the island, Mr. Somboon said. (TNA)

via Phuket tourism not affected by Thailand’s political tensions.

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