BANGKOK, 24 February 2014 – The Tourism Council of Thailand estimates that if the demonstration continues, there will be a constant decrease in tourists. The council projects a decrease of 1.1 million tourists, resulting in a loss of revenue for of the entire year of more than 90 billion baht.
Mrs. Pornthip Hirankate, Vice President of Marketing Department, Tourism Council of Thailand, said the political demonstrations, which have been going on for four months, have impacted tourism especially in the central areas of the city including Ratchaprasong, Pathumwan and Sukhumvit because they are rally sites and the traffic were closed so foreign tourists have avoided those areas.
The occupancy rates in the hotels situated in those areas have dropped to only 20-30 percent. Before, during a typical high season, the occupancy rate was 70-90 percent. It is expected that at the end of the first quarter, there will be a loss of revenue of about 50 billion baht. The decreased in tourists mostly come from China, Hong Kong, Korea and Japan.
Mrs. Pornthip Hirankate added that now the number of foreign tourists travelling to Chiang Mai or Phuket has increased by 30 percent and some avoid staying in the center of Bangkok by turning to hotels close to the airport. Meanwhile, hotel and restaurant business sectors have started to adapt themselves in order to attract more customers.
