Travel Around Thailand Management Corner | Geography and history One of the country’s most popular tourist destinations, Phuket has a huge range of attractions and activities on offer, including diving, golf, horse riding, trekking and water sports, as well as a wealth of accommodation and dining options. Following the opening of Phuket International Airport in 1976, tourism emerged as the island’s premier revenue earner. Thailand’s largest island, often dubbed “Pearl of the Andaman”, boasts rich natural resources, including impressive beaches, rocky peninsulas, hilly areas and nearby islands. Although Phuket and its environs were badly hit during the December 2004 tsunami, causing huge loss of life and damage to property, the province managed to rebound reasonably quickly and little evidence remains to hint of the catastrophic events of that fateful day. Phuket also calls itself the “diving capital” of Thailand, with several interesting destinations within the boundaries of the island province. |