PHUKET FACTS

 

Population Phuket : 250.000

Ethnic Groups Thai 75%, Chinese 14%, other 11% Languages Offical language is Thai, English (secondary language of the elite) is widely spoken, ethnic and regional dialects

Literacy 93.8%

Religion Buddhism 95%, Muslim 3.8%, Christianity 0.5%, Hinduism 0.1%, other 0.6%

 

 

 

 

Airport
Phuket International Airport, Airport code: HKT, is 35km (22 miles) northwest of Phuket. Airport facilities include left luggage, duty-free shops (0700-2100), first aid (0600-2300), banks, post office (0830-2000), restaurant and snack bars (0700-2100), car hire and tourist information.
Limousine/Taxi Service: As you enter the arrival hall from the baggage claim area look for the Airport Limousine Counter located near the exit. Private, air-conditioned Toyota cars are apx. 360-450 to Phuket Town or the major west-coast beaches. VIP cars (Volvos) are about 25% more. The service is fast and efficient
Mini-Bus Service: The mini-bus service is available at the same counter mentioned above and is 80- 120 Baht and takes you directly to your hotel.

 

Visas
All persons entering Thailand must have a passport valid for a further 6 months. Most nationalities on arrival will be issued with a 30 day tourist visa, free of charge. Persons wishing to stay longer than this time should contact their local Thai embassy before departure.

 

Currency
The Thai unit of currency is the Baht which is worth a little less than 4 US cents.
One US dollar = approximately 40 Baht.
The Baht is divided into 100 Satang. "Copper" coins are valued at 25 and 50 Satang. "Silver" coins are in denominations of 1' 2 and 5 Baht. A 10 baht coin is composed of both "silver" and "copper". Banknotes are valued at 10 baht (brown), 20 Baht (green), 50 Baht (blue), 100 Baht (red), 500 Baht (purple) and 1,000 Baht (khaki).

 

Credit Cards
Major international credit cards, such as American Express, Diners, Carte Blanche, Master Card and VISA are accepted at most hotels and state run shops in the major cities.

 

 Tipping

Most restaurants add a 10 per cent service charge to the bill but an additional 5 to 10 per cent may be given, where deserved. When a service charge is not automatic,10 per cent is acceptable. There is no tipping in very simple restaurants or food stalls. Small tips may also be given to bellboys, or roommaids.

 

Electricity
Electricity supply is 220 volts, 50 cycles. Major hotels also have 110V or adapters.

 

Business Hours
Government offices are open on Monday to Friday, from 8.30 am to 4.30 pm.
Most offices open from 8:30am - 5:00pm, Monday to Friday.
General banking hours are Monday to Friday 9:30am - 3:30pm.
Shopping centres are open everyday from 10.00 am to 9.00 pm.

 

Climate
Phuket has a tropical monsoon climate. There are two distinct seasons. Rainy season begins from May through October and the hot season is from November through April. Rain rarely lasts longer than a few hours this part of the country. Average temperatures in Phuket are between the 25 to 30 degrees all year round though slightly cooler during the rainy season.
The country lies within the humid tropics and remains hot throughout the year. Average temperature are about 30 celcius, ranging in Bangkok from 37 celcius in April to 28 celcius in December. There are 3 overlapping seasons: the rainy season normally lasts from July to October, then the weather turns moderate to cool until February and gradually warms up to swealtering heat until June.

 

Clothing
Thailand is a tropical country and as such, very hot. Comfortable cotton clothing is best and mostly casual attire is suitable for most tours and events. When visiting temples, though, shorts should not be worn and women are advised to dress modestly, with arms and legs covered. 

 

GDP Growth Rate 6.7

 

Inflation 1.8%

 

Imports Capital goods, intermediate goods and raw materials, consumer goods, fuels

 

Geography

Phuket laying in the Andaman Sea off southern Thailand’s west coast, Phuket, Thailand, is commonly referred to as the ‘Pearl of South’. It is the largest island in Thailand and runs 48 km north to south and 21 km east to west.
Phuket is broken by a chain of mountains and valleys mainly from a north-south range running down the west coast which accounts for about 70% of the land area with the tallest peak, Mai Tao Sip Song at 529 meters.
With an area of 513,115sqkm (198,404sqmi), Thailand has roughly the size of France. Located between 6° and 21° north latitude and 97° and 106° east longitude, she is bordered in the north by Burma and Laos, in the west by Burma, in the east by Cambodia and Laos and in the south by Malaysia (and the Gulf of Thailand). The longest north-south distance is about 1500km (930mi), the longest east-west distance about 800km (500mi).

 

Source: worldroom.com