Although tourists are returning to Phuket in increasing numbers, compared to other provinces, many of the smaller hotels on the resort island are yet to benefit from the recovery in the tourism sector.

 

One of the biggest challenges facing these hotels is a shortage of funds to renovate or repair their premises, which were left unoccupied for most of the past three years during the COVID-19 pandemic, and banks remain reluctant to approve new borrowing until they repay their old loans.

 

Pimpisaporn Techauppathamkul, vice president of the Phuket Boutique Accommodation Consortium, told Thai PBS that about half of the 400 small hotel members of the consortium folded and their properties were seized by their creditors,while some other hotels are fighting their cases in court.

 

Full story: https://www.thaipbsworld.com/small-hotels-in-phuket-are-yet-to-benefit-from-tourism-recovery/

 

-- © Copyright Thai PBS 2022-12-12

 

- Cigna offers a range of visa-compliant plans that meet the minimum requirement of medical treatment, including COVID-19, up to THB 3m. For more information on all expat health insurance plans click here.

 

Monthly car subscription with first-class insurance, 24x7 assistance and more in one price - click here to find out more!

Perhaps they are short of paying customers because they want too much to stay there.

I've stayed in many a less than posh hotel in Thailand, but they were cheap, so a good trade off.

In the last few years I was in LOS, too many crumbling ruins tarted themselves up and put up the prices because they knew they'd have a ready supply of customers fooled by the "boutique" description and they booked on line rather than having a look before staying.

Not unusual for me to look in an hotel with a marvelous foyer and less than salubrious guest rooms.

I think what's happening is the Ruskies who are the majority here are staying anywhere but hotels for longer cheaper stays........ 

Tourism here will likely remain decimated for a long time to come. I just booked a peak season resort for the holidays for 25% of what it would have cost 5 years ago.

 

Woe is Thailand with the cowards in charge. The sabotage was historic. 

3 hours ago, webfact said:

which were left unoccupied for most of the past three years during the COVID-19 pandemic

Think 'forced shut by the government' wold be more apt !

I was just looking the other day for a half decent 3 star hotel starting from Patong to Kata for the wife and kids this coming March during the school holidays. Couldn't believe that there wasn't that much on offer for what I consider a half decent 3 star hotel with breakfast and pool for 2,500 baht a night.

 

We used to pay that before the pandemic, and if they think I am going to pay above 2,500 baht a night for them to make up their unfortunate losses, well I guess they will have another room empty for a week, that said the private rental market looks more inviting, but it's not the same as a hotel where you wake up and go downstairs for a swim and then to breakfast, oh well, if it's got to be the private rental market, it looks like I will take my fruit loops with me.

 

You drive for Layan to Surin on the back beach roads and there are empty, closed, boarded up silent stays everywhere ????

9 hours ago, webfact said:

Although tourists are returning to Phuket in increasing numbers, compared to other provinces, many of the smaller hotels on the resort island are yet to benefit from the recovery in the tourism sector.

Phuket has been open long before anywhere else, the sandbox scheme was the first to re-open a tourist resort.. and they say they have yet to recover?

7 hours ago, hotchilli said:

Phuket has been open long before anywhere else, the sandbox scheme was the first to re-open a tourist resort.. and they say they have yet to recover?

Yes, as the revery is not instant but long and by far more coplex process than it seems to many. We are talking about years with an unknown outcome, as there always may be unforeseeable variables. Look at Russia / Ukraine.