Phuket cabaret is a "soft power" of the province that can generate over 200 million baht in revenue a year, according to provincial governor Sophon Suwanrat.
He said after presiding over the opening of the Simon Cabaret Phuket Show in Kathu district yesterday that this year is proving to be a golden year for tourism in Phuket.
"The number of tourists visiting us as of Oct 31 was 10.5 million people, generating a total income of 390 billion baht. For the year as a whole, we're certain the tourism industry can generate 450 billion baht for the island, almost the same figure as for 2019 before the Covid-19 pandemic," he said.
Mr Sophon said local authorities have improved basic infrastructure to support tourism, such as improving roads and mass transit systems. The Phuket Provincial Administrative Organisation plans to introduce 24 electric buses for locals and tourists to commute by the end of January, he said.
"As for Simon Cabaret Phuket, it is already a form of soft power. It is quite rare to have such a business that has been operating for over 30 years, welcoming more than 600,000 tourists from all over the world," he said.
Mr Sophon said the island province is ready for the high season with an opening festival organised for Dec 8-10 at Patong Beach.
Pornthep Rouyrin, vice chairman of Phuket Simon Cabaret, said it started in Pattaya, Chon Buri.
"My parents expanded it to a full-fledged transgender show theatre. They thought Phuket was a tourist province like Pattaya, so they bought land in Patong to build the Simon Cabaret Phuket Theatre. It was opened in 1991, and today, 33 years later, it stands as the first theatre in Phuket," he said.