A year and a half after the tsunami, the tourism industry on the Andaman coast is showing good signs of recovery, an official said last week.

Hotels in Phang Nga are advertising at least 1,000 new job vacancies, and Phuket is already well prepared for a return to business as usual, said Prasert Chanpolngarm, president of the Phang Nga Tourism Business Association.

"Hotels and resorts have reopened for the upcoming high season, particularly at Khao Lak, Bang Nieng and Koh Kor," he said.

An extra 1,600 rooms are being opened in Phang Nga for the expected influx of new arrivals, he added.

Caretaker Tourism and Sports Minister Pracha Maleenont said Phuket's new tsunami warning system would boost the confidence of tourists.

More tourists are expected to return to Phuket, but Thailand will probably not reach its overall target of 14.5 million tourist arrivals this year, Pracha said during a trip to the island last weekend.

He was speaking after a tsunami - triggered by an undersea earthquake - killed at least 500 people on the Indonesian island of Java last week. The incident has not affected Phuket.

Meanwhile, the Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) has requested a budget of Bt900 million for marketing activities in the second half of the year, but only Bt270 million has been approved so far.

TAT governor Juthamas Siriwan said the money would be spent promoting Thailand in six main markets - Japan, China, South Korea, the United Kingdom, the United States and Middle Eastern countries.

The TAT will focus on 'direct-to-consumer' promotions while also introducing discount packages, trade promotions and special rewards for tourists arriving in Thailand, she said.

Juthamas ends her term as TAT governor in September. There has been no confirmation of who will replace her in the top post.

Suchat Sritama

The Nation