News by Phuket Andaman Villas

Phuket got unbelievable growth of retail sector over these two decades but there is no real improvement in customer service especially in knowing product and mastering foreign language. Any improvements in these subjects are needed if this island wants to perform as regional retail hub in 2015 when ASEAN Economic Community (AEC) charter takes effect.

The coming of AEC 2015 charter emphasizing the new era of economics for Southeast Asian bloc. Analyst warned the island about increasing competition amongst the ten member economics community. Phuket has positioned itself for well-post 2015 market and tourism promotion had grabbed the title of ASEAN Tourism Hub on this island which had established 43,000 rooms in accommodation standard. Though accommodation market had saturated but a cluster of new units are on the way. Patong has up 4,200 new rooms to open between now until the end of 2014 as it is encouraging by low-cost carrier like AirAsia. Another importance is Chinese market that contributing Australians as the top visitors for Phuket. Recently there are 50 direct scheduled and charter flights monthly from China and online websites tour in China reported 37% increase in revenue from 2009 to 2010.

Consumer later understands about many unscrupulous tour operators which bus them to gem shops, clandestine dealers in medicines such as local turtle penis, and others to advance their sales commissions. But in 2015 Chinese market should grow segments of Armani, Arpege, or Andara. Furthermore Phuket boasts wide choice of shopping line but what visitors want it good knowledge of product, language understandings, and courtesy – not harassment by sidewalk touts, doubting immigration status, or vacant stares in counters of retail outlets in this island. Professional retailers in Phuket should recover inventory staff productivity, attitudes amongst this global competence while Bangkok and Singapore had done it well.

News by Phuket Gazette