Phuket battles labour shortage with 1 million Chinese tourists expected this year

[snoop1130]

PHOTO: Tasty Thailand

 

Supply and demand, always a critical issue for Phuket’s tourist-reliant economy. Pre-2019 there was a half-decade of oversupply in both staff and room keys. Now that situation has radically reversed with 30-40% of hotels still closed and critical staff shortages in many industries.

 

Up to 1 million Chinese tourists are expected to visit Phuket during the course of this year, according to the president of the Thai Southern Hotel Association. And while that’s good news for revenue, it poses a challenge for the island’s businesses as they continue to struggle with ongoing labour shortages, even while the arrival numbers are around 50% of the 2019 averages.

 

According to a Phuket Express report, Suksit Suwanditkul says it’s likely the Chinese will start to arrive in bigger numbers during the second quarter of the year, as opposed to the first, due to the ongoing Covid situation in China. And even though Phuket can expect to welcome around a million Chinese visitors this year, this is still well below the pre-pandemic number of 3 million in 2019.

 

A very pressing issue for tourism operators in Phuket right now is the challenge of labour shortages, which Suksit says is still getting worse. The issue has not been helped by the need to hire daily workers for New Year’s Eve, which led to pay rates surging to up to 1,200 baht amidst tough competition to secure labourers.

 

The short term solutions are pushing up the costs of everything from room rates, to tour costs, car and bike rentals and restaurant food bills.

 

And it’s not just enough to find and hire people – they need to have the right skills and in many case, formal qualifications. Training in some industries can take months and years.

 

“The shortage is severe in the massage and spa businesses because it is specialised work that requires labourers with licences who have undergone training programmes and have a minimum working experience of 150 hours.”

 

Suksit says the lack of trained masseuse staff is affecting revenue in spas and massage parlours, despite the return of international tourism.

 

“Even though there are more foreign tourists and businesses have re-opened, revenue for massage and spa parlors has only increased by 30% due to the lack of staff to provide services.”

 

Meanwhile, Suksit is calling on the government to mandate adequate health insurance coverage for visitors from China, so that Thailand’s healthcare system does not come under pressure. He’s also calling for mandatory pre-departure PCR or antigen tests for tourists arriving from parts of China with high rates of Covid-19 infection.

 

Source: https://phuket-go.com/phuket-news/phuket-news/phuket-battles-labour-shortage-with-1-million-chinese-tourists-expected-this-year/

 

-- © Copyright Phuket GO 2023-01-04

 

- 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!

[ezzra]

Anyone who reads the news will do well to keep away from any place in Thailand where Covid infested Chinese will be and a million of them no less...

[popabear]

Would , maybe the 12 hour day 6 day week they require  ,at 10,000 to 12,000 bath a month have something to do with this problem ????  Regards Popa

[RafPinto]

Send some massage girls from BKK.
I see them sitting everywhere with not many customers and many are not even bothered to take their eyes off the phone.

[Agusts]

I guess the report wanted to say battles with shortage of "nurses", as many Chinese with COVID heading our way, and they don't even require a test like many other countries.... - who cares as long as they bring some money to spend, right ! ? 

 

Greed is the number one Thai weakness , and their main reason of downfall... - wait until the next wave is picked up....! ????