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Thailand puzzle: Arrivals soar, hotel occupancy plummets
It’s hard to know what to make of the latest visitors figures coming out of Thailand.
Figures released by the Tourism Authority of Thailand show that there was an increase of 13.7 percent in international arrivals between January and June – a period that covered the political upheaval in Bangkok – as compared to the same period last year (7.52 million as opposed to 6.61 million). 


According to the Airports of Thailand, international traffic to both Phuket and Chiang Mai was strong during the first half of the year with disembarkations from international flights increasing by more than 49 percent and 26 percent respectively to those destinations over the January-to-June period.


Contrast these figures with those released this week by Thai Hotel Association and reported by TTR Daily.
THA president, Prakit Chinamornpong, briefing members at the association’s monthly meeting in Bangkok, reported occupancy declines across the country.
In the eastern region, the average performance was, 44.7 percent, in the north down to 41.3 percent, western provinces, 56 percent and Bangkok down to 49.9 percent.
According to the THA president, the average occupancy rate across the country should be approximately 65 to 70 percent but this year the rate dropped to 40 to 50 percent.
The only bright spot was that the eastern seaboard, including Pattaya, performed better than last year, but only by a marginal 1.8 percent.
“As long as the state of emergency is in place,” said Prakit, “we can expect to lose business and suffer low occupancies across the country.”
Footnote: A bomb exploded opposite the King Power duty free outlet in Soi Rangnam in Phaya Thai district early Friday morning, injuring a man.
Ian Jarrett
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