Phuket’s bars and beaches deserted as coronavirus batters Thailand’s tourism industry

In normal times, 80 per cent of the island’s profits come from tourism, a sector that employs more than 300,000 people

Last year, more than 9 million tourists visited Phuket, the kingdom’s second-most popular destination after Bangkok

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Employees waiting in front of empty bars along the popular walking street of Patong in Phuket. Photo: AFP

Published: 10:00am, 10 Oct 2020Updated: 2:14pm, 13 Oct 2020

Phuket’s go-go dancers sit playing on their phones in empty bars lining deserted streets as the Thai tourist island reels from the ravages of the pandemic with little sign of any recovery soon.

Swimming pools are empty, chairs are stacked high in deserted restaurants and normally packed beaches are so quiet they are even seeing rare species of sea turtle arriving to nest.

Last year, more than 9 million tourists visited Phuket, the kingdom’s second-most popular destination after Bangkok.

Today, nearly all the island’s 3,000 hotels are closed and the main town of Patong has become a “ghost town”, says local tycoon Preechawut Keesin, who owns five nightclubs and around 600 hotel rooms.

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Phuket a 'ghost island' as Covid-19 pandemic keeps tourists away from Thai travel hotspot

Thailand has so far remained relatively unscathed from the global outbreak with around 3,600 confirmed cases and just a few dozen deaths.

Phuket’s bars and beaches deserted as coronavirus batters Thailand’s tourism industry

In normal times, 80 per cent of the island’s profits come from tourism, a sector that employs more than 300,000 people Last year, more than 9 million tourists visited Phuket, the kingdom’s second-most popular destination after Bangkok

In normal times, 80 per cent of the island’s profits come from tourism, a sector that employs more than 300,000 people

Last year, more than 9 million tourists visited Phuket, the kingdom’s second-most popular destination after Bangkok