Phuket Direct Flights Expand as Visitor Numbers Dip

Phuket recorded more than 9.2 million visitors during the first eight months of 2026, although total arrivals were 1.76% lower than during the same period last year. At the same time, the island is preparing to add four new direct international routes before the start of the peak tourism season.

Figures from the Tourism Authority of Thailand, presented at a Phuket provincial administration meeting on September 28, showed that 9,200,166 people visited the island between January and August.

Thai visitors accounted for 2,409,873 arrivals, an increase of 0.46% year on year. International arrivals, however, declined 2.52% to 6,790,293.

Tourism revenue followed a similar trend, falling 0.99% to 356.21 billion baht. Foreign visitors generated 328.93 billion baht, down 1.19% from the previous year, while spending by Thai tourists rose 1.44% to 27.29 billion baht.

Average hotel occupancy across Phuket stood at 66.20%.

Russia remained Phuket’s largest international tourism market, with 661,876 visitors. China ranked second with 459,218 arrivals, followed by India with 393,277.

Australia was the fourth-largest market at 167,345 visitors, followed by the United Kingdom with 152,866, Germany with 115,795 and France with 111,701.

Malaysia recorded 101,639 arrivals, while South Korea contributed 90,341 visitors and Kazakhstan 86,071.

Four new direct routes

Phuket’s international air network is set to expand in October, with new direct services planned to London, Zurich, Kuwait and Minsk.

Virgin Atlantic is scheduled to launch direct flights between London and Phuket on October 18, with three services per week.

Edelweiss Air is due to start operating the Zurich–Phuket route on October 25, also with three weekly flights.

Kuwait Airways is scheduled to begin twice-weekly flights between Kuwait and Phuket on October 27.

Belavia Belarusian Airlines will complete the October expansion with the launch of twice-weekly direct flights between Minsk and Phuket on October 29.

The new services will strengthen connections with European, Middle Eastern and Eastern European markets as Phuket enters its busiest tourism period of the year.

Tourism officials expect the additional flights to provide more capacity for international travellers and support businesses that depend on visitor spending, including hotels, restaurants and other tourism-related services.

Although Phuket has recorded a modest year-on-year decline in arrivals and tourism revenue, the expansion of direct international air links will increase the island’s flight capacity during the final months of 2026.