Thai hotel occupancy rate bounces back as tourist arrivals jump

A REBOUND in foreign tourist arrivals into Thailand is pushing up the nation’s hotel occupancy rate from a record low during the pandemic, according to a survey. The average room occupancy at Thai hotels was 48 per cent in August, up from 46 per cent a month earlier, according to a joint survey of 106 hotels by the Bank of Thailand (BOT) and the Thai Hotels Association. That helped lift the average employment rate at these hotels to 75 per cent from 71 per cent in July, the survey, held during Aug 8-24, showed. Hotels in Thailand, like most tourism-reliant countries, is benefiting from a rebound in global travel demand with authorities scrapping all pandemic-era restrictions that kept visitors out for almost 2 years.

A government-funded air travel and hotel subsidy programme for residents has also helped hotels log higher occupancy, the central bank said. 

Tourism revival is seen as key to Thailand’s economic recovery as the sector accounts for 12 per cent of the gross domestic product and 20 per cent of total employment, according to BOT.

BOT governor Sethaput Suthiwartnarueput expects foreign tourist arrivals this year to exceed 8 million, helping the economy return to pre-Covid levels by the end of this year.

Some key points from the survey: • While hotel incomes have started to improve, overall revenue remains well below pre-Covid levels; • Hotels reporting income of more than 50 per cent of pre-pandemic levels are mostly 4-5 star rated properties; •Occupancy rate in September seen at around 40 per cent; •Hotels are still concerned about sustaining demand amid rising inflation as about 60 per cent of operators worry about falling purchasing power and lower-than-expected tourist arrivals; •A labour shortage and disruption to economic activities from potential new waves of outbreak are also among key concerns. BLOOMBERG