|
|
BY A CORRESPONDENT
March 1, 2007
For the travel industry in Thailand, the past few
months have been difficult with most hotels in Bangkok
reporting a slide in business. Some hotels Bangkok are reporting up to 14% drop in
revenues compared to the previous year.
Security appears to be the major concern particularly,
Bangkok, the capital.
The New Year bombings, the continued unrest in southern
Thailand, the recent grenade attack close to the Rama
Gardens hotel and a spate of travel advisories with
government warnings are all hurting tourism, according
to Andrew Wood, general manager of Chaophya Park Hotel
and Resorts.
March is usually a good month for occupancies, but some
market analysts are forecasting only slightly more than
70% average bookings for the whole month.
Andrew Wood thinks that the biggest losers will be the
corporate and MICE sectors.
“Some companies have issued bans on all but essential
travel to Thailand with the uncertainty over the interim
government’s failure to check ongoing security
concerns,” Andrew Wood said.
A number of high-profile events were recently cancelled.
One five-star hotel recently reported losing a North
American corporate incentive group worth Bt 11 million
(US$ 309,000) because of current travel advisories.
“The financial corporate market is still reeling from
the effects of a number of unclear fiscal regulations of
the government and a series of political U-turns. The
problem is worsened by a weakening dollar and the
short-term looks decidedly unsettled,” Wood said.
Meanwhile, the Tourism Authority of Thailand and THAI
are set to announce shortly major campaigns at boosting
domestic spending.
|
