Phuket Video News Monday 1 December 2008

TAT help at Phuket Airport

All parties concerned in Phuket join hands to assist tourists who get delayed at Phuket International Airport.
A large number of foreign tourists yesterday joined in long queues at Phuket International Airport to check in for their flights. There are airlines now flying direct from Phuket to overseas destinations like Singapore, Germanys Frankfurt, Malaysia, Hong Kong, Sweden and Australia, with more planes after they were released from Suwannabhum in Bangkok. The Phuket authority joins hands with the Tourism sectors and Tourism Authority of Thailand to assist tourists by establishing an information centre on the second floor of the airport terminal. Foreign passengers enquire about bookings and updates of the situation as some said most information from the media was in Thai. Tourist police also have their foreign volunteers to assist foreign tourists. They can speak English, French, German and Russian. Settapahan Buddhani, TAT Director of Phuket told Andaman News about the latest situation for passengers who cannot go to/from Bangkok accounting for around 400 people per day. He stated that affected tourists can stay in free accommodation under the condition that their costs do not exceed 2,000 Baht per day. For any excess, tourists must be responsible and pay themselves. Tourists can only change the place of accommodation that has been arranged by Thai Hotel Association or THA. For reimbursement, tourists are required to submit the following: Copy of their passport in which they have signed and certified as a true copy; Copy of their air ticket; & Folio and hotel bill:
voice Settapahan, TAT Director Phuket

Meanwhile the director of Phuket Land Transport Office Sompong Tohsawas said about 40 buses are departing Phuket to Bangkok every day and five buses are prepared to serve passengers from Phuket Airport to Bangkok and U-Thapao everyday. The fare is 800 baht per person.
On the other hand, the Immigration Bureau have stated that for any tourist whose visa has expired since 26 November, till the Bangkok airports reopen, there will be no penalty or charge for overstay from the Immigration Bureau. However, tourists must show their original tickets to avoid being charged.
Meanwhile, Martin Carpenter MBE, British Honorary Consul in Phuket, informed Andaman News that if any British Citizens in Phuket require assistance due to the airport closure in Bangkok, they should telephone the British Embassy Bangkok on this number: 02 3058333 or in case of emergency, please telephone him on this number: 089 874 9080 For more information regarding travel advisories, please refer to the British Embassy website UK in Thailand - the British Embassy in Thailand

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Phuket Airport statistics still show a 5% increase for passengers this year, with increasing flights during the Bangkok closure.
The Airports of Thailand Public Company Limited, which manages Phuket International Airport, has informed Andaman News about their latest statistics for January to October 2008. They showed a total of 31,802 aircraft movements, down 3.25% from the same months in 2007, especially due to sharp drops in August in September of about 28 & 23% respectively due to airport blockage by PAD protestors.
However the total numbers of arriving, departing and transit passengers in the first 10 months of the year, was 4,808,658 showing an increase of 4.72% compared to the same months in 2007, and despite drops of 14 & 21% in August and September; but the cumulative figures are still the highest ever numbers at Phuket. The total freight showed 15,138 tons in and out, a 2.78% increase.
It remains to be seen what effect the latest Bangkok airport closures will have on Phukets figures, but several airlines, like Thai Airways, Silk Air, Air Asia, Firefly, Finnair & Qantas, are now increasing their flights here to evacuate stranded passengers or bring new passengers in.

YouTube - TAT help at Phuket Airport & Flight increase this year.wmv