Thai hotel industry: Situation worsens slightly in July, remains a serious concern

[webfact]

Picture: Daily News

 

The head of the Thai Hoteliers' Association said that the situation in the country remains a concern with many hotels still closed though hoping to open in the fourth quarter (Oct-Dec high). 

 

The devastating third wave of Covid-19 infections that continues in Thailand led to 2.2% more hotel closures in July compared to June a survey of 272 establishments nationwide revealed. 

 

These did not include hotels offering quarantine arrangements.

 

Marisa Sukosolnunphakdi said that 20% of hotels had such poor liquidity that they could only last for another three months and 23% were only able to stay open for one more month.

 

Currently 40.1% of hotels were open as normal, 38.2% were offering some services and 21.7% were shut completely.

 

Just over half of those temporarily closed still hope to open in the fourth quarter while only 12% have hopes of opening in this quarter (this and next month). 

 

Low occupancy rates are being experience across the sector as Thailand battles the worst outbreak of Covid-19 infections yet, reported Daily News. 

 

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[RotBenz8888]

I have contributed my fair share to the Thai hotel business the

past year. 2 rounds in ASQ hotels????

[Virt]

Tourism will probably stay low until Thailand has finished their vaccination program and will open up as normal. 

 

The regular tourist don't want to spend so much time figuring out how to plan a trip to Thailand. 

 

Covid 19 insurances instead of the normal travel insurance, quarantines, not allowing mixed vaccinations (mRNA as second shot) and mandatory masks are some of the things they need to sort out. 

 

I can't wait to return to Thailand,and miss my yearly vacations a lot, but I will wait until it's normal again. 

[Blumpie]

I wonder how this news story will play out one year from today when it's pretty much exactly the same as right now and hasn't improved at all...

[RotBenz8888]

2 minutes ago, Sticky Rice Balls said:

Any tips for those considering the dreaded ASQ?

I'm not much of a FB fan, but I joined only to get information regarding the CoE process and ASQ reviews. There are currently 5 groups (that I know of) that helped me alot. 

Hell of a gamble just to pick a hotel without thorough research, I've read quite a few horror stories... 

[trainman34014]

Things of 'Serious Concern' are of no concern to the Gangsters in Government House; the only thing of interest is the Slush Funds !

[Virt]

39 minutes ago, Sticky Rice Balls said:

Venture a guess on when that "normalcy" will return?.....not sure I want to know the answer....

Hopefylly fast, but I'm not holding my breath. 

I hope to return in Feb 2022, but I doubt things are normal by then. 

 

It's really sad.

Thailand managed to get through the first year without many problems and had very few deaths within the first year, but then they failed their vaccination program big time, and that is a major problem now with the delta variant being so dominant. 

 

Maybe the brass thought Thailand would continue to go through this without major problems? 

 

But things are not better in many other countries. 

Try and see how many Congo or Haiti has vaccinated. 

 

[MrJ2U]

1 hour ago, webfact said:

Marisa Sukosolnunphakdi said that 20% of hotels had such poor liquidity that they could only last for another three months and 23% were only able to stay open for one more month.

They keep saying that every other month.

 

It's not going to get better, only worse.

 

They need to put pressure on the government to aquire quality vaccines in huge numbers.

 

I doubt there will be any handouts.  Its like feeding a dead horse.

[herfiehandbag]

19 minutes ago, Virt said:

Try and see how many Congo or Haiti has vaccinated. 

Congo and Haiti don't pretend to be developing nations.

 

Congo and Haiti have rudimentary health care provision. They don't make any claim to have an effective system which covers their entire population.

 

Congo and Haiti don't have pretensions to be a regional military or naval power.

 

Congo and Haiti don't have pretensions to be a player in space.

 

Congo and Haiti don't have plans for high speed rail networks.

 

Congo and Haiti, most importantly, don't rely on tourism for 20% of their GDP, and probably for a greater % of employment.

 

Conga and Haiti have not had governments elected or removed by their people democratically in living memory. Those governments destroyed their economies and societies many years, perhaps generations ago. 

 

Thailand is just embarking on that process.

 

 

Edited August 13, 2021 by herfiehandbag

[Virt]

17 minutes ago, herfiehandbag said:

Congo and Haiti don't pretend to be developing nations.

 

Congo and Haiti have rudimentary health care provision. They don't make any claim to have an effective system which covers their entire population.

 

Congo and Haiti don't have pretensions to be a regional military or naval power.

 

Congo and Haiti don't have pretensions to be a player in space.

 

Congo and Haiti don't have plans for high speed rail networks.

 

Congo and Haiti, most importantly, don't rely on tourism for 20% of their GDP, and probably for a greater % of employment.

 

Conga and Haiti have not had governments elected or removed by their people democratically in living memory. Those governments destroyed their economies and societies many years, perhaps generations ago. 

 

Thailand is just embarking on that process.

 

 

I was not trying to compare those 2 nations with Thailand. I was just saying the situation are worse in other countries. 

[Taboo2]

My God....get rid of the 14 day QT for  us Vaccinated folks and you will see an immediate increase in bookings!

[daveAustin]

2 hours ago, Sticky Rice Balls said:

Venture a guess on when that "normalcy" will return?.....not sure I want to know the answer....

When the army fold up their tents and F off!

[RichardColeman]

I think the situation is not going to get better as quickly as these hoteliers think it will. Certainly not in Oct-Dec with current restrictions ongoing.

 

If Thailand opens up, the only way to save these hotels is MASS tourism WITHOUT hoops. Drip feeding tourists in the same way as Phuket will not save he hotel industry - just prolong their death.

 

Close Thailand for 4 months completely, vaccinate and open up to all on Jan 1st. Any later and the entire sector is at risk.

[eeworldwide]

1 hour ago, RichardColeman said:

I think the situation is not going to get better as quickly as these hoteliers think it will. Certainly not in Oct-Dec with current restrictions ongoing.

 

If Thailand opens up, the only way to save these hotels is MASS tourism WITHOUT hoops. Drip feeding tourists in the same way as Phuket will not save he hotel industry - just prolong their death.

 

Close Thailand for 4 months completely, vaccinate and open up to all on Jan 1st. Any later and the entire sector is at risk.

i'd like to say I agree wiht you. but it's not only dependent on Thailand is it?
We need to keep a close eye on the rest of the world, because the prognosis is not good with regard to vaccine efficacy over an extended period of time. This will have an impact on each country individually and on people's ability to travel.

If there is another wave with a more deadly breakthrough variant, all bets are off.

 

I would liketo also suggest that the demise of mass tourism is a blessing- albeit in disguise. One thing I feel confident in saying is that Thailand won't be reverting back to how it used to be any time soon - if ever.

[hotchilli]

6 hours ago, webfact said:

The head of the Thai Hoteliers' Association said that the situation in the country remains a concern with many hotels still closed though hoping to open in the fourth quarter (Oct-Dec high).

I love the optimism.

[hotchilli]

5 hours ago, Virt said:

Tourism will probably stay low until Thailand has finished their vaccination program and will open up as normal. 

 

The regular tourist don't want to spend so much time figuring out how to plan a trip to Thailand. 

 

Covid 19 insurances instead of the normal travel insurance, quarantines, not allowing mixed vaccinations (mRNA as second shot) and mandatory masks are some of the things they need to sort out. 

 

I can't wait to return to Thailand,and miss my yearly vacations a lot, but I will wait until it's normal again. 

See you in 2025 then

[kotsak]

1 hour ago, hotchilli said:

7 hours ago, Virt said:

Tourism will probably stay low until Thailand has finished their vaccination program and will open up as normal. 

 

The regular tourist don't want to spend so much time figuring out how to plan a trip to Thailand. 

 

Covid 19 insurances instead of the normal travel insurance, quarantines, not allowing mixed vaccinations (mRNA as second shot) and mandatory masks are some of the things they need to sort out. 

 

I can't wait to return to Thailand,and miss my yearly vacations a lot, but I will wait until it's normal again. 

Expand  

See you in 2025 then

With the current mentality better try a 1 instead of a 0 ????

[zzaa09]

7 hours ago, Sticky Rice Balls said:

Any tips for those considering the dreaded ASQ?

Just deal with it? 

There won't be any celebrated October general opening where the ASQ requirements were to be rescinded. 

I'm suspecting that this won't come about, realistically, until into the first quarter of 2022. 

 

It is what it is.

[herfiehandbag]

4 hours ago, eeworldwide said:

I would liketo also suggest that the demise of mass tourism is a blessing- albeit in disguise. One thing I feel confident in saying is that Thailand won't be reverting back to how it used to be any time soon - if ever.

I would like to suggest that the very large numbers of people who make their living from mass tourism probably don't share your opinion.

 

Being out of work, with no safety net or compensation, and no real opportunity of finding another job in the foreseeable future by is a jolly well disguised blessing!

 

[Golden Triangle]

I have a friend who works or worked at the Hilton hotel on beach road, not sure what's happening there, I'll send her a message, see if I can find out.

[Paradise Pete]

8 hours ago, Virt said:

 

Covid 19 insurances instead of the normal travel insurance, quarantines, not allowing mixed vaccinations (mRNA as second shot) and mandatory masks are some of the things they need to sort out. 

The covid insurance makes no sense to me. I'm fully vaccinated. The chance of me running up a big hospital bill due to covid is tiny, but the insurance premium doesn't reflect that.

The notion of requiring insurance means they're more concerned about the possibility of an unpaid hospital bill than the real spending a fully vaxxed person would do.

[DaveSamutP]

As soon as men trust the kittens are safe, they will be back. Gotta get those kittens jabbed ASAP ???? 

[Lingba]

I think a more serious concern ae the people not being offered the better vaccines

[Almer]

Well i tried to book a resort yesterday afternoon for a short time and it was full !!

[Albert Zweistein]

5 hours ago, Almer said:

Well i tried to book a resort yesterday afternoon for a short time and it was full !!

Or closed which they don't mention on their site, loss of face remember ?

[Stargeezr]

Sorry, eeworldwide, it seems that you forget who is running Thailand, also who is in power in Thailand.

Who are the Elites and ultra rich in Thailand , All of that is why Thailand will not change much from what it was.

  The tourist industry will slowly rise from the ashes in 2023, or 2024, and maybe in 5 to 10 years, it will 

start to look a bit like the old place we knew.  I think that a lot of the smaller businesses will be gone, and

only a few of the hotel chains, that have very deep pockets in the back ground may survive. 

 Do not forget that Thailand is s tropical country where many of the worlds tourist like to go in the Winter months 

to escape the cold climate of the northern countries.  Or in the case of the Aussies, to escape the hot hot Summer

time.  Once the COVID pandemic is finally over, this situation will be why Thailand will once again become one of the

Tourist destinations.  By 2025 I think the tourist industry will be well on its way to a partial recovery.

Geezer

  

[Greenwich Boy]

20 hours ago, RotBenz8888 said:

I'm not much of a FB fan, but I joined only to get information regarding the CoE process and ASQ reviews. There are currently 5 groups (that I know of) that helped me alot. 

Hell of a gamble just to pick a hotel without thorough research, I've read quite a few horror stories... 

Agreed. I joined Thai Expat UK on FB. Very helpful with visa and CofE process.

As for hotels read the reviews but decide what is important for you. For me it was a balcony and a microwave!

[drenddy]

Open the country for fully vaccinated tourists, 1-2 days quarantine upon arrival, until PCR results come.

 

And sort out quarantine places, as far more of these will be needed, because higher number of tourists would eventually result in higher number of positive cases.

[NoshowJones]

22 hours ago, Taboo2 said:

My God....get rid of the 14 day QT for  us Vaccinated folks and you will see an immediate increase in bookings!

Can't do that, too many people gaining financially here,  no point in going over the beneficiaries again.

[NoshowJones]

4 hours ago, Greenwich Boy said:

Agreed. I joined Thai Expat UK on FB. Very helpful with visa and CofE process.

As for hotels read the reviews but decide what is important for you. For me it was a balcony and a microwave!

I would thing the most important thing for anyone going into an ASQ hotel would be that insurance scam for the $100.000 starting immediately and not waiting two weeks before it is active.