City Sightseeing Phuket to launch double-decker hop-on hop-off buses on 20 October

City Sightseeing Phuket will officially launch a double-decker hop-on hop-off bus service on 20 October, linking 11 key tourist destinations across the island.

The service is being introduced by Elephant GoGo Phuket in partnership with City Sightseeing, a global sightseeing-bus network from Spain, and Central Phuket. The route is intended to connect Phuket's old town, cultural and religious sites, attractions and lifestyle destinations, giving visitors an alternative to fixed tour itineraries.

The hop-on hop-off model allows passengers to get off at designated stops, spend time at places of interest and board a later bus. The operators said the service is designed to encourage visitors to explore areas beyond Phuket's beaches, including local food, shopping districts, historic communities and other destinations near the route.

Krit Witthayasamrit, managing director of Elephant GoGo Phuket, said the company wanted the buses to help visitors discover Phuket's history, culture, food and local way of life, as well as its coastline.

The company said the service was also intended to create economic opportunities for businesses along the route. Each stop could direct visitors to nearby restaurants, shops, tour operators, local guides and other services, while the operation itself is expected to create jobs in driving, customer service, sales and other functions.

Central Phuket will provide a service and tour-package sales counter and host the route's starting point at Central Phuket Floresta. The shopping centre will also support coordination with provincial agencies and businesses, according to the announcement.

The launch comes as Phuket continues to attract large numbers of visitors. Data from the Tourism Authority of Thailand's Phuket office cited in the announcement showed more than 9.2 million visitors in the first eight months of 2026, generating more than B356.214 billion in tourism revenue. Foreign visitors accounted for 6.79 million of the total.

The announcement also cited Lonely Planet's selection of Phuket as one of its 25 top destinations for 2026 and Travel + Leisure's ranking of Phuket fourth among the best islands in Asia for the year.