Phuket authorities on Tuesday launched public passenger van services on a route between Phuket town and popular Patong beach as an alternative means of transport for visitors to the island province.
Theerayut Prasertpol, chief of the Phuket provincial transport office, on Tuesday, said six passenger vans were now operating on the Phuket-Patong route, a distance of 18 kilometres.
Vans depart the provincial bus terminal every hour between 7am and 6pm every day, and from Patong beach between 6am and 7pm. The fare is 50 baht each from Phuket to Patong. If passengers use the service between Sam Kong area and Patong, the fare is 30 baht each. Fares are halved for students, the provincial transport office chief said.
Vans pick up and drop passengers at seven stops -- in front of the provincial hall, the provincial prison, Phuketwittayalai School, Vachira Phuket Hospital, Bangkok Hospital, Sam Kong Municipal School and the Tesco Lotus Sam Kong branch, he said.
Anoma Wongyai, director of the Tourism Authority of Thailand’s Phuket office, said on Tuesday that there was a rise in tourist arrivals and departures in the island province between January and July. Tourist arrivals stood at 3.67 million during this period, an increase of 12.99%, while tourist departures were reported at 3.79 million, a 12.16% increase.
Chinese visitors topped the nationality list, with over 700,000 visiting the country during this period, followed by Russians and then Australian tourists, Ms Anoma said.