| Phuket is one of Thailand's most popular tourist | | | | The beaches are still there and the popular sites |
| destinations, and yet visitor numbers are well | | | | are waiting for visitors to trickle in. Of course, |
| down on previous year. The beaches and streets | | | | travelers should still exercise the same caution |
| in Phuket are quiet and businesses are beginning | | | | they would when visiting Phuket any time of the |
| to feel the strain. Thailand's political problems have | | | | year. Traveling alone on a motorcycle at night isn't |
| been well documented by the media, so much so | | | | a good idea and care should be taken when out |
| that the country is portrayed as being in complete | | | | and about. But don't let the news reports put you |
| anarchy. Although the problems have been | | | | off a trip to Phuket. |
| centered in Bangkok, they have impacted Phuket. | | | | It's a sad state of affairs, but hotel-booking |
| But what's the reality of the situation? Should | | | | websites have been reporting a huge decline in |
| tourists be wary of traveling to Phuket? | | | | bookings. The same is true of airlines, who are |
| The short answer is "no". For a bit of perspective, | | | | now throwing out offers left, right and center to |
| Thailand has had numerous problems over the | | | | entice people to visit Thailand. There are bargains |
| years, from coups to bombings. However, it was | | | | to be snapped up at the moment. |
| only the tsunami that really affected tourism in | | | | So if Phuket is safe for tourists, then what about |
| the long run. Thailand's internal problems usually | | | | Bangkok, where most of the trouble has been? |
| create a few short-term ripples and the media | | | | There have been protests and airport closures |
| writes of chaos in the streets, but for people | | | | and all sorts. However, unless you had a plane to |
| living in Thailand, they will tell you that life goes on | | | | catch during that time, if you were in Bangkok, |
| as usual. | | | | you wouldn't have noticed much out of the |
| In Phuket, tourism is way down. Hotels are | | | | ordinary other than when you turned on the |
| nowhere near full and people on the island are | | | | news. Everything carried on as usual. It always |
| saying that the effect on the industry will be | | | | does. |
| worse in the long term than the tsunami. It's such | | | | After the most recent coup, the tanks and |
| a dire situation, but it's also completely | | | | soldiers became a tourist attraction. The resultant |
| unnecessary. Travel advisory warnings also don't | | | | protests were mostly jovial affairs with picnics |
| help. | | | | and concerts. Some media reports were |
| If you were to visit Phuket right now you'd see a | | | | speculating that Thailand was about to become a |
| peaceful island. There are no more dangers than | | | | bloodbath, similar to revolutions of the past, but |
| normal and everything is safe. There's no fighting | | | | such events didn't materialize. |
| in the streets and tourists aren't being victimized | | | | Forums, blogs and phone lines have been |
| or attacked. In fact, there's probably never been | | | | inundated with people asking if Phuket is still safe |
| a better time to visit Phuket because the island is | | | | for travel. It is safe, and it likely will be for a long |
| less crowded than usual. | | | | time to come. |