ThaisNews, 10/3/2006
This is Phi Phi Island today. It has taken the island almost two years to be back on track for the new upcoming high season when tourists can really enjoy the beach and water activities like this in good weather.
Being the low or monsoon season still for the Andaman region, big ferries like this one, Sea Angel Cruise going every day between Phuket and Phi Phi, sometimes take on board passengers from other smaller boats to share the load. According to their ferry manager, Warakan Juntavaro, they are both day trip groups who are usually Asians and those who go for overnight stays and are mostly European or Australian divers. Talking about the Phi Phi island recovery, the Tourism Authority of Thailand Deputy Governor Juthaporn Rernron-Asa said there are 1,800 rooms now available on the island from the pre-tsunami period of 2,200 rooms. While some hotel accommodation owners are still working on their reconstruction or refurbishments, the tall Phi Phi Hotel and the garden themed Banyan Villas are fully open for guests, with one more PP Casita, with attractive flowers and natural wooden stilts, almost fully ready to open as a sister hotel.
