Phuket –
Phuket is experiencing a wave of economic resurgence in early 2025, with surging tourism revenue and near-record employment growth reflecting a province on the rebound. Local officials report that between January and April, Phuket generated approximately 188 billion baht in tourism income—fueled by a rise in quality-driven travelers despite modest visitor numbers.
Deputy Governor Suvit Panseangiem said the province is on pace to outperform 2024, when tourism brought in an estimated 497 billion baht. “While tourist arrivals remain under pre-pandemic levels, today’s visitors are spending more, significantly lifting total revenue,” he explained. Phuket now trails only Bangkok in tourism-generated income nationwide.
This influx of capital has had a ripple effect across industries. The construction, hospitality, and services sectors have ramped up hiring to meet demand. “Economic growth is creating jobs at every level,” Suvit noted, adding that the expansion has opened opportunities for both first-time jobseekers and the previously unemployed.
Tanet Tantipiriyakit, President of the Phuket Tourist Association, underscored the labor shift with figures from the local labor and social security offices. In 2019, there were around 100,000 registered workers in the province. Today, that number exceeds 270,000—a nearly 100% increase. “We haven’t fully recovered in terms of tourist volume,” he admitted, “but revenue and employment figures suggest that Phuket’s tourism economy is stronger and more resilient than ever.”
