Phuket
Chinese tourists flock back to Phuket for Chinese New Year 2019
Chinese tourists are flocking back to Phuket for Chinese New Year 2019 after a six month hiatus following last year’s Phoenix boat tragedy.
47 Chinese tourists drowned in the incident, including many children, after the boat capsized on July 5 in a late afternoon storm as the tour boat was returning to Phuket.
In the following months hotels received thousands of cancellations and new bookings weren’t being made. Tourism Authority of Thailand officials were hoping the numbers would recover in the final quarter of 2018 but that didn’t happen despite efforts of the Thai government to lure back the highly profitable Chinese arrivals.
Special ‘VIP’ immigration lanes at the airports and visa fee waiver schemes didn’t immediately re-ignite the tourists from China although Chinese tourists remained the highest arrivals on the island. Official numbers indicate the numbers dropped off 15-20% although some businesses, who had actively chased the Chinese market, reported a much higher drop off in Q4.
But that’s all changed as Phuket heads into the Chinese New Year celebrations for 2019.
Tourism officials and businesses say the Chinese are back, and in large numbers, for the annual holiday.
Hotel operators are reporting higher than usual bookings for the Chinese New Year festival, especially between February 2-10, according to the Thai Hotels Association.
“The average occupancy rate has risen to 90%,” according to Kongsak Khuphongsakon, chairman of the southern region of Thai Hotels Association.
Meanwhile Hotelbeds.com is reporting that Thailand is topping the list of destination for Chinese travellers in their 2019 exodus from China for the holidays.
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Read more headlines, reports & breaking news in Phuket. Or catch up on your Thailand news.
PHOTOS: The Nation
by Pratch Rukivanarom
Health experts, however, warned that the widespread burning of Chinese joss papers and incense during the celebrations could “worsen air pollution and pose severe health threats”.
Health Department director-general Dr Panpimol Wipulakorn cautioned that exposure to air pollution from the burning of Chinese joss papers and incenses can cause acute sicknesses such as eye irritation, sneezing, breathing difficulties and headache, while prolonged exposure to the toxic smoke could even cause cancer.
“This kind of air pollution is very harmful to health and should be avoided by everyone.”
He added that children, elders, pregnant women and people with respiratory diseases were even more sensitive to the toxic smoke from the burning of Chinese joss papers and incense, so they should avoid inhaling the smoke at all cost.
“The smoke from Chinese joss papers and the burning of incense contain many kinds of hazardous heavy metals and carcinogens. In an examination of the leftover ashes, we found a very high amount of carcinogens,” she said.
Chinese New Year is neither traditionally celebrated nor recognised as an official holiday in Thailand. But as a large number of Thais of Chinese descent live in urban areas, Chinese New Year celebrations, which normally includes the burning of joss papers and 
incenses, can be widely seen in many Thai cities, especially in Bangkok’s Chinatown and Phuket.
STORY: The Nation
Actress Shamita Shetty travelled to Phuket as her birthday destination. Shamita turned 40 on February 2.
Shamita Shetty is one of Bollywood’s most popular actresses and an interior designer, along with her famous sister Shipla.
Her sister Shilpa Shetty, brother-in-law Raj Kundra and friends Sarita Madhavan, Rohini Iyer and Akanksha Malhotra also accompanied her to Phuket.
Glimpses from Shamita’s pre-birthday were shared by her on Instagram and also by other members from the birthday party.
“Bringing in Shamita Shetty’s birthday this weekend in Phuket. Having an amazing time with this adorable bunch,” Raj Kundra captioned his post.
Shamita Shetty made her Bollywood debut with Shah Rukh Khan and Amitabh Bachchan’s 2000 film Mohabbatein, in which she was cast opposite Uday Chopra. Later, she followed it up with films like Fareb, Bewafaa, Zeher, Mohabbat Ho Gayi Hai Tumse and Cash. Shamita entered the TV industry with Bigg Boss 3 and was later seen in Jhalak Dikhhla Jaa.
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