Shifting sands hit ice cream sales

Change in profile of foreign tourists to blame

- KUAKUL MORNKUM

The changing profile of foreign tourists visiting Andaman coast provinces such as Krabi and Phuket is expected to challenge ice cream sales in the area, say local ice cream dealers.

Noppanut Ittitanachot, general manager of Navasorn Distribution Co Ltd, an ice cream dealer in Phuket, said 80% of the company's ice cream sales come from tourists, both Thais and foreigners.

Before the pandemic, the tourist demographic was mainly from Europe and China, with an influx of Russian and Ukrainian tourists during the pandemic, she said.

Ms Noppanut said Europeans are the biggest spenders on ice cream.

She estimated Europeans typically purchase up to three ice cream cones a day, while Chinese tourists purchase 1-2.