Tourism down in 2005

The number of visitors to Thailand actually shrank 2.5% last year, a far cry from the government predicted 10% growth. Hotel occupancy in Phuket was 40% last year and still devastated Khao Lak 10%.

Up to and including the day of the announcement, the government continued to insist that Phuket was fully recovered and tourism was actually on the increase, unaffected by tsunami, floods, lack of rebuilding due to misallocation of government funds and refusal of foreign aid, political instability, human rights abuses, crime wave against foreign tourists, and highly restrictive alcohol policies.