In a major blow to the recovery of tourism in Thailand, Pattaya hotels are closing down again amid expectations occupancy rates will remain in single digits through May, according to a report in the Pattaya Mail.
Thai Hotels Association President Marisa Sukosol Nonpakdee said on April 23 that the latest coronavirus outbreak has affected not only room rentals, but hotel restaurants and conference centers. Only hotels with strong financial foundations or those getting financial support from parent companies will be able to survive, she said.
At the same time, the THA is urging the government to press on with plans to open Phuket in July to vaccinated tourists without them having to endure quarantine, and expand that to five other provinces in October.
Kongsak Kupongsakorn, president of THA’s Southern Chapter, said that about 200-300 hotels, a total of 15,000 rooms, are open in Phuket. Bookings after the Songkran holiday are at 20% to 30% of capacity for holidays and 5% to 10% on weekdays.
Hotel operators had expected to parlay a relatively strong Songkran into a solid May and limp into the fall when foreign tourism is expected to resume. But the third wave has wiped out any chance to make money this spring, Marisa said.
THA said fewer than half the hotels in tourist destinations nationwide are open for business with many of those considering closing until October.
Currently, 45 percent of hotel employees are jobless, the THA and Bank of Thailand reported.