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|
Interesting Sites in Muang
District |
| Khao
Rang - It is a small hillock behind the city to the northwestern side. A car can
easily reach to the top of this mountain. It is set up by the municipality to be both a
health garden and a public park for relaxation. The beautiful scenery of Muang Phuket
could be seen from the top of the mountain, as well as wide sea, small and big islands of
near and far sight. |
| Stoned
Bridge - It is a park within the city, at the end of Phuket road, a liitle bit
reaching out to the sea. It is boasts of a 60 years-old statue, built during the year 1978
in memory to Captain Edward Thomasmile, an Australian who brought the first mining boat to
Thailand in the year 1809. |
 Ancient Buildings - Lots of ancient
buildings under European style could be seen in Muang Phuket. They were built about 100
years ago when the mining enterprises experiences the growth. This buildings are also
mixed with Chinese architecture, so called “Sino-Portugese Architecture”. The
buildings could be mostly seen on Thalang road, Dibuk road, Pang-nga road, Yaowarat road,
and Krabi road. However, the current buildings under European style include the city hall
of Phuket province, Phuket Court, and Siam Metropolitan Bank.Chalong Temple - It is about 8 kilometers
from Muang Phuket. From the city, just take Highway Number 4021 through the intersection
at the areas of Surakul Sport Stadium, then make a left turn to Chalong intersection. The
temple would be on left side before Chalong intersection about 4 kilometers. It is the
most popular temple in Phuket province, with the statue of Luang Po Cham and Luang Po
Chuang. |
| Rawai Beach - It is about 17
kilometers from Muang Phuket. Just take the route from Chalong intersection to Rawai beach
(Highway Number 4024). It is one of the most beautiful routes in Phuket province. The
beach is also beautiful. |
 Phrom Thep Cape - It is about 2
kilometers from Rawai beach. It is the cape at the south end of Phuket island, so called
“Lam Chao”. The areas at the cape is the most beautiful of Phuket island. Above
the cape, there would be plain areas for parking, which is a high cliff at the seacoast.
At the cliff, the picture of Phrom Thep reaching out to the sea could be beautifully seen,
as well as many small islands. On the right side, the beach line of Nai Han beach could
also be seen. Besides, there would be a pathway from the cliff to the end of Phrom Thep
cape. It is the beautiful site to view the sun set.Nai Han Beach - It is the beach
next to Phrom Thep cape to the north, or about 18 kilometers from Mueang Phuket. It is not
a long beach, but with white and clean sand. Behind the beach, there would be a swamp, so
called "Nong Han". Nai Han beach is located between the sea areas and the swamp.
During the storm of May-October, the wave would be so strong, which is not good for
swimming. |
| Kata Bay - It is about 17 kilometers
from Muang Phuket along Highway Number 4028. There are 2 small bays : Kata Yai bay and
Kata Noi bay, with beautiful sand beach, good for swimming and diving because there are
long lines of corals until Koa Poo in fron to Kata beach. At Kata beach, there are all set
of facilities such as lodgings, tour agencies, shops, and entertainment sites for service
to the tourists. |
|
| Interesting Site in Kratu
District |
| Patong Bay - It is about 15
kilometers from Muang Phuket along Wichit Songkram road or Highway Number 4020 for about 9
kilometers. Then, make a left turn to Highway Number 4029 for about 6 kilometers. It is
the curve of long beautiful sand beach about 9 kilometers, with clear sea water good for
swimming. |
|
Interesting Sites in
Thalang District |
| Statue
of Brave Ladies - It is well known as the statue of Thao Thep Kasatri and Thao Si
Sunthorn, located at Tha Ruea intersection, Thalang District, before reaching to Muang
Phuket about 12 kilometers. |
 Thalang National Museum - It
is about 50 meters from Statue of Brave Ladies. The buildings are designed under the style
of 2 local houses in Phuket province. The first building would demonstrate the
pre-historic story of Phuket province, and the second building would exhibit the details
of Thalang War, as well as life styles, culture, traditions of people in Phuket province.
The museum would open to the public everyday, except Monday, Tuesday, and holidays, from
09.00-16.00, with the entrance fee of 10 baht for Thai people and 30 baht for foreigners.
For more information, please contact at Tel. 311426.Wat Pra Thong (Wat Pra Put) - It is about
20 kilometers from Muang Phuket, and a little bit further from Thalang District Office. In
the past, there was a Buddha image appearing from the ground (half body). Every time
people tried to dig this Budda image from the ground, there would be the warps chasing.
So, people gave up their attempt, and left that Buddha image with half body appearing from
the ground up to present time. |
| Sirinat
National Park - It was announced to be a national park on July 13, 1981. This national
park is located about 30 kilometers from the city along Thep Kasatri road through Thalang
District until the Km. 21-22, with a separated way to the left for about 10 kilometers.
Or, go until the intersection to the airport, then make a left turn. The areas would be
about 90 square kilometers or 56,250 rai, with long beach lines of 13 kilometers,
including : - Nai Thon Beach - Go along the
route to the national park, then make a left turn at the Km. 21-22. When getting to Ban
Saku, make a left turn about 3 kilometers until Nai Thon Beach, which is a peaceful beach,
good for swimming.
 - Nai Yang Beach - It is the location
of the national park office, with a very refreshing beach for relaxing and swimming,
together with big long lines of corals as well as various fish and marine animals,
especially sea turtles coming to lay the eggs during November-February. However, the
numbers of those sea turtles have been decreased.
- Mai Kao Beach or Sanam Bin Beach
- Go along Thep Kasatri road through the intersection to the airport. Then, go
straight to Sarasin Bridge, with a sign on the left telling the way to Mai Kao Beach. Make
a left turn about 3.5 kilometers until Mai Kao Beach, with the sea turtles and sea cicadas
to be seen.
- Kaew Sand Beach - It is a white sand beach along the pine trees, close to Mai Kao
Beach until Sarasin Bridge. It is the beach in the north end of Phuket Island.
|
| Travel to various islands
around Phuket island and Andaman sea |
|
Phuket province is the tourism center in the areas of Andaman sea. There are about 39
small islands around Phuket Island. Most of them would be in the east side, including : |
|
Raja Yai Island - It is an island with white and clean sand beach. The travel could be
through rented long tail boats at Tha Chalong, with the fee about 1,200 baht for the whole
one boat, for 10 people under the journey of 2-3 hours. The travel should be during
December-April, which is the period with no storm. There is a lodging so called “Raya
Andaman Resort”, Tel. 381710-2. |
| Mai
Thon Island - It is the island with beautiful corals, good for diving and fishing. For
the travel and lodgings, please contact at Mai Thon Resort, Tel. (076) 391159 (Office at
Phuket Deep Seaport), and Tel. (076) 214954-8 (at Mai Thon Island). |
|
Besides, there are also the islands in the areas of Pang-nga, Krabi, and Satun provinces.
The tourists could also contact the tour agencies in Phuket for the travel to these
islands, including : |
| Koa
Yao - It is in the areas of Pang-nga province, with very beautiful sand beach. There
would be the boat from Bang Rong pier of Phuket Island to Koa Yao Noi at 08.00 and 11.00,
with the fare of 30 baht/person, or the rented long tail boats of about 500 baht/one boat,
under the journey of 2 hours. |
|
Islands in Pang-Nga Bay National Park - There are about 300 islands, with different
shapes, and beautiful. |
|
PP Islands - They are in the areas of Muang District of Krabi province, about 40
kilometers from both Phuket and Krabi provinces, consisting of PP Don Island and PP Le
Island or about 2.2 kilometers apart. They are very beautiful islands with pleasant
scenery, both on land and undersea. |
|
The tourists could travel to these islands with either one day trip or stay overnight.
Besides, there are also tour services from Phuket Island to other islands such as Surin
Islands, Similan Islands, Lata Islands, until Taru Tao Islands. |
|
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Tourism
Statistics in Phuket Province
|
|
During 1999, there were a total of 3,083,208 visitors/tourists to Phuket province, or an
increase of 15.89% from the year before. When considering the travel means, about 68% of
those visitors/tourists came to the province by their own, mostly by plane, and by
personal car. For types of lodgings, most of them would stay at hotels. The most popular
tourism sites are Pa Tong Beach, Nai Muang, Kata Beach, and Phrom Thep Cape. |
|
The average duration of stay among the tourists is 5.07 days. Also, the average expenses
among those tourists are Baht 3,690.09 per person/day, which could create a circulating
income of Baht 55,458.89 Million to the province. The average expenses among the
sightseers are Baht 2,148.95, which could create a circulating income of Baht 255.47
Million to the province. Hence, the overall income from tourism of Phuket province is Baht
55,714.36 Million. The average expenses among visitors is Baht 3,630.67 per person/day.
Most of those expenses would be for lodgings and gifts/souvenirs. |
|
Lodging
Statistics
|
|
During 1999, there were the total lodgings of 303 places in Phuket province, with the
average of staying at the hotel of 63.40%, or an increase of 4.53% from the year before.
Also, there were the overall of 2,753,330 tourists/visitors staying in the hotels. From
these numbers, they could be divided into 2,077,423 foreign tourists or 75%. |
|
| TABLE
11 – 1 INFORMATION OF VISITORS 1999 |
Item |
Thai |
Foreigner |
Total (persons) |
| Number of visitors Visitors
Travelers |
915,406
846,463
68,943
|
2,167,802
2,117,864
49,938
|
3,083,208
2,964,327
118,881
|
| Number of visitors by
transportation |
315,406 |
2,167,802 |
3,083,208 |
| Airplane Train
Bus
Private car
Others |
334,246
0
221,829
355,979
3,352
|
1,208,048
0
358,815
599,142
1,797
|
1,542,294
0
580,644
955,121
5,149
|
| Number of traveler by living
place Hotel
Guesthouse
Bangalo-resort
Friend/Relative
house
National park house
Visitor house
Others |
846,463
675,907
0
14,725
109,043
7,382
28,004
11,402
|
2,117,864
2,077,423
0
23,048
7,549
4,182
5,662
0 |
2,964,327
2,753,330
0
37,773
116,592
11,564
33,666
11,402
|
| Average day rest/persons
(day) |
3.51 |
5.70 |
5.07 |
| Average day
expenditure/persons/day (Baht) Visitors
Travelers
|
2,540.69
2,581.49
2,039.8
|
3,920.51
3,958.73
2,299.65
|
3,630.67
3,690.09
2,148.95
|
Income(Million Baht)
Visitors
Travelers
|
7,810.46
7,669.83
140.63
|
47,903.90
47,789.06
114.84
|
55,714.36
55,458.89
255.47
|
Average time to travel per
year (time)
Visitors
Travelers |
2.71
2.69
2.91 |
4.86
4.94
1.18 |
4.22
4.30
2.28 |
| Source:
Tourism Authority of Thailand |
|
|
|
|
|
During 1999, Phuket province maintained a total of 303 hotels with an overall 20,150
rooms, or an increase of 2,198 rooms (12.24%) from the year 1998. |
|
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Transportation
|
|
Phuket province has a commercial airport to facilitate the transportation to both Thai and
foreign tourists. Besides, there are both regular and air conditioning buses from Bangkok
to Phuket province everyday. Also, the travel could be by car along Highway Number 4 (from
Bangkok). For the tourists who would want to travel by train, they need to come to Surat
Thani province, and then transfer into the bus to Phuket province. |
|
Transportation
within Phuket Province
|
There are motor tricycles for service within the municipal areas of the province. Or,
those motor tricycles could be rented to go to other various places, with the prices
depending on the distance.
There are also small buses and regular buses for service to various beaches or some other
tourism sites. The buses would leave every 30 minutes, from 06.00-18.00, for a fare of
Baht 10-20.
In addition, there is a transport service between the airport and Muang Phuket, as well as
from Muang District to the airport. At the airport, there are also taxi service to Muang
Phuket or different beaches with different fares. At the same time, there are transport
services to the airport in accordance with the flight schedules between 06.30-18.00, which
would leave Royal Tour Enterprises Ltd. on Wichit Songkram road (Tel. 235-268-71). |
|
| Transport
to different tourism sites |
| Phuket
province has boat service for the tourists to PP Islands: |
- Sea Trans Travel
Pang-nga road, Tel. (076)213510 Fax. (076)223922
- PP Cruiser Marine
Wichit Songkram road, Tel.(076) 211253 Fax. (076)218456
- PP Marine Travel
Phunphon road Tel.(076) 214941, 223532 Fax(076). 214942
- Fast Ferry Siam Chao
Fah road Tel.(076) 210769
- Friendship Travel
Phuket road Tel.(076) 217317
- Lovely Travel &
Tour Mae Luan road Tel. (076)221126
- Songserm Travel
Center Satune road Tel.(076) 223636-40
- Singha Phuket
Phunphon Nite Barza Phunphon road Tel.(076)220873, 225585
|
|
Besides, there are rented automobiles for tourists who prefer free and convenient travel. |
|
| Lodgings |
| Phuket
province has many lodgings for service to the tourists and travelers, including hotels,
guesthouses, bungalows, or resorts. |
|
Office of Tourism
Authority of Thailand, Southern Region IV |
73-75
Phuket road, Muang District, Phuket province 83000Tel. (076) 212213, 211036
Fax. (076) 213582
Responsible areas : Phuket, Pang-nga, Krabi provinces |
Security (Long
Distance code 076)
|
- Phuket
Office 211366
- Tourism
Police 219878
- Phuket
Airport 327230-7
- Immigration
212108
- Thai
Airways International (Phuket) 211195, 212946, 212499
- Bangkok
Airways 212341, 225033-5
- Wajira
Hospital 211114
- Phuket
Adventis Hospital 212386
- Phuket
Ruam Pat Hospital 21295
- Siriroj
Hospital 249400, 210935
|
|
|
|
|
By car - From Bangkok, just take the route of Thaon Buri-Pak Tho (Hoghway Number
35), then use Highway Number 4 all along through Petch Buri, Prachuab Khiri Khan, and
Chumphon provinces, as well as Kra Buri, Muang, Kapur Districts, Ranong province, Kura
Buri, Ta Kua Pa, Muang, and Ta Kua Thung Districts, Ban Kok Kloi, Pang-nga province. Then,
cross Thao Thep Kasatri bridge or Sarasin bridge into Phuket province, under the overall
distance of 862 kilometers. |
|
By bus - There are both regular and air conditioning buses from Southern Transport
Station to Phuket province everyday. For more information, please contact at Tel.(076)
435-1200, 434-7192, or Phuket Central Ltd. , Tel. (076) 211480. |
|
By train - There are no direct trains to Phuket province. It has to get off at
Phunphin Train Station of Surat Thani province. Then, take the bus into Phiket province.
For more information, please contact at Transport Service Unit, Railways Authority of
Thailand, Tel.(076) 223-7010, 223-7020. |
|
By plane - Thai Airways International Public Co.,Ltd. maintains daily flight of
Bangkok-Phuket. For more information, please contact at Tel. 280-0060, 628-2000, or the
office in Phuket province, Tel. (076) 211195, 212499, 212946. Also, Bangkok Airways Ltd.
maintains daily flights of Bangkok-U-Tapao-Phuket, and Bangkok-Samui-Phuket. For more
information, please contact at Tel. 229-3456-63, or the office in Phuket, Tel. (076)
212341, 225033-5. |
|
| Travel
from Phuket province to nearby provinces |
|
There are transport services from Phuket province to nearby provinces, which would leave
Transport Station on Pang-nga road to Krabi, Nakhon Si Thammarat, Pang-nga, Ranong, Surat
Thani, Trang, and Satun provinces, as well as Hat Yai, and Ta Kua Pa Districts, and Samui
Island. For more information, please contact at Phuket Transport Station, Tel. (076)
211480, 211977. |
|
Flight service to nearby
provinces |
- Thai Airways
International Ltd., with the flight to Surat Thani, Nakhon Si Thammarat, and Trang
provinces, as well as Hat Yai. For more information, please contact at Tel. 280-0060,
628-2000, or the office in Phuket province, Tel. (076) 211195, 212499, 212946.
|
- Bangkok Airways Ltd.,
with the flight of Phuket-Samui, and Phuket-Ranong. For more information, please contact
at Tel. 229-3456-63, or the office in Phuket province, Tel. (076) 212341, 225033-5.
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