Tourists travelling less but spending more in luxury Thai tourism

[webfact]

 

The luxury travel sector is witnessing a peculiar trend: tourists are travelling less but spending more, according to the observations from Pimalai Resort and Spa, a hospitality establishment located on Koh Lanta. The resort has also noted that Krabi tourism is grappling with the dearth of international flights, especially from China.

 

The resort’s owner, Charintip Tiyaphorn, revealed that despite the financial strain experienced by European visitors due to inflation and rising living expenses, their enthusiasm for Thai tourism remains undiminished. This is largely credited to the competitive pricing of Thailand’s tourism products. Current trends indicate a decline in the number of annual overseas trips taken by these tourists, down to one or two from the previous four trips before the pandemic. However, the expenditure per trip has seen a significant rise.

 

The resort largely caters to guests from the UK, Germany, Switzerland, the US, and China, each constituting approximately 20% of the market. However, 2023 has seen a fall in domestic tourism as high-income local tourists have begun to explore outbound destinations.

 

The occupancy rate at Pimalai Resort and Spa is anticipated to be around 65% this year, showing improvement from 60% in 2019. Instead of increasing the average daily room rate, the resort’s strategy is to stabilise the occupancy rate, aiming to drive spending through longer stays. The room rate for 2023 has been kept at around 7,317 baht (US$ 205), slightly lower than 7,802 baht (US$ 219) in 2019, reported Bangkok Post.

 

by Alex Morgan

Picture courtesy of Krabi Airport

 

Full story: The Thaiger 2023-11-16

 

- 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.

 

Get our Daily Newsletter - Click HERE to subscribe

[daveAustin]

That is a nice resort and prices can go waaay over what they state here. I'd sooner do a couple grand on a Phra-Ae or Nui beach resort and blow the balance on hedonism. 

[4MyEgo]

What this tells me is those with mortgages who have had over a dozen rate increase in the past 18 months are going nowhere.

 

Those with money will travel and those with no mortgages living at home with mum and dad will travel.

 

Can't see a change until interest rates come down down down.

[Prubangboy]

Def. see this in Nimman. $150 hotels are hard to book. $60 hotels have plenty of rooms to rent.