With an economy heavily dependent on visitors, Phuket has studied the issue and reached a conclusion: It needs old people, and a lot of them, as The Phuket News’ Tanyaluk Sakoot writes.
Phuket residents gathered Wednesday to hash out ideas for what places the elderly would like to stay and what sites they’d like to visit as part of a bid to boost the number of elderly Thai and foreign tourists there and in the south.
“We have already researched the behavior of the elderly,” said Assoc. Prof. Dr. Saranya Bunnag of the Social Sciences Faculty at Prince of Songkhla University. “They like comfortable accommodation and food that is easy to digest. They like visiting natural places such as the hot springs in Ranong, and places of history.”
Attending the meeting were tour agents, local officials and local people from various parts of the island as Saranya sought their opinions about the attractions that may interest elderly tourists.
“I believe we should attract more elderly tourists to come in Phuket. In Penang in Malaysia they get lots of these people. It would be good if we in Phuket can do the same,” she said. “Phuket is an interesting province that international tourists have been aware of for a long time
She said that the PSU research team has already begun collecting information, and expects to complete it in about three weeks. After that, the research will be presented to the Federation of Thai Industries.
“We aim to help create a new target market [the elderly] and create new tour routes [for them] in Phuket, which will also help the nation’s economy.”
Story: The Phuket News
