Phuket’s accommodation occupancy rate was higher than a year earlier in July and August 2026. These are the first two months since February to show a gain. But fewer people visited the island, and they spent less money, than in 2025. The Ministry of Tourism and Sports (MOTS) published the August figures on 14 September 2026.
For an owner who rents out a unit, a higher occupancy rate does not by itself mean higher income. It also does not yet show more visitors or more money coming to the island.
Occupancy turned up after a weak June
MOTS gives Phuket’s occupancy rate as 74.15% in July 2026, against 70.68% in July 2025. That is 3.47 percentage points higher. In August the rate was 70.01%, against 68.90%, a gain of 1.11 points. Before that, every month from March to June was below 2025. June was the weakest month, at 61.74% against 66.79%, a fall of 5.05 points.
The number of guests staying in accommodation also rose. MOTS counts 1,085,246 in July (up 3.22%) and 1,063,214 in August (up 1.75%).
Visitors and revenue are still below 2025
Total visitors fell in August, to 1,102,107 from 1,141,355 (down 3.44%). Foreign visitors fell to 835,622 from 854,892 (down 2.25%). Thai visitors fell to 266,485 from 286,463 (down 6.97%). Total visitor revenue was ฿45,253.19 million, against ฿46,564.07 million (down 2.82%). Foreign visitor revenue fell 2.25%, and Thai visitor revenue fell 9.05%.
July was close to flat. Total visitors were 1,135,382 against 1,139,408 (down 0.35%), and revenue was ฿47,954.93 million against ฿48,371.02 million (down 0.86%). In 2026, only February had more visitors than the year before.
From January to August, Phuket had 9,200,166 visitors, 1.76% fewer than in 2025. Foreign visitors fell 2.52% to 6,790,293. Thai visitors rose 0.46% to 2,409,873. Total visitor revenue was ฿356,214.76 million, down 0.99%. The Thaiger reported on 29 September 2026 that the Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) presented 9,200,166 January–August visitors, 6,790,293 of them foreign (down 2.52%) and 2,409,873 Thai (up 0.46%), with revenue of ฿356.21 billion (down 0.99%), at a Phuket provincial administration meeting on 28 September.
Who this affects
These numbers concern owners who rent out condos or villas, and buyers who look at rental income. The occupancy rate describes the whole island, not one unit, and visitor numbers and spending were still below 2025, so a single owner’s income may differ from the rate.
What it may mean for Phuket property
January to March brought ฿142,669.54 million in visitor revenue. That is about 40% of the ฿356,214.76 million January–August total (calculated from MOTS’ monthly rows). January alone brought ฿52,806.72 million. MOTS visitor revenue is what visitors spent, not what owners earned. A buyer who reads a rental-yield claim should ask which months it uses.
What remains unknown
MOTS does not say why occupancy rose while visitors and revenue fell. The release gives no room-supply figure, no length of stay, no split by property type and no nationality breakdown by province. MOTS’ own eight-month occupancy figure cannot be reconciled from the published data, because MOTS gives no cumulative method or denominators, so this article quotes the monthly figures.
Two months of gains are not a trend. The data stops at August 2026; it says nothing about November 2026 to March 2027. The April–August 2026 figures are preliminary, and MOTS may revise them. Revenue is in nominal baht.
