PHUKET—
The Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) Phuket Office anticipates a major tourism surge during the island’s iconic Vegetarian Festival, forecasting more than 634,000 visits and over 22 billion baht in revenue throughout the nine-day celebration from October 21–29, 2025.
The Tourism Analytics Center (TATIC) told the Phuket Express that as of September 24th, the festival is expected to draw 634,787 tourist visits, marking a return of activity to the province. Of this total, international visitors account for the majority—436,548 visits—generating approximately 19.69 billion baht. Domestic travelers are projected at 198,239 visits, contributing around 2.34 billion baht.
Hotel occupancy is also set to soar. Based on a sample survey covering 30% of hotels across Phuket’s key tourism zones, the province boasts 1,883 hotels with a combined 104,268 rooms. During the festival period, average occupancy is expected to reach 81.29%, with tourists staying an average of 4.35 days.
The Vegetarian Festival, known locally as “Gin Je,” is one of Phuket’s most culturally significant and visually striking events. Rooted in Chinese Taoist traditions, the festival features ritual processions, firewalking, and acts of self-mortification performed by spirit mediums, drawing thousands of spectators and participants each year.
With strong international interest and robust domestic participation, the 2025 edition of the festival is poised to reaffirm Phuket’s status as a top-tier cultural tourism destination.
