Tourism Chaos Erupts: Hotels Back Out of Thai Government Tourism Scheme

[webfact]

File photo courtesy of Facebook Dusit Thani

 

Chaos erupts as Thai hotels, including big names like Dusit, pause involvement in the domestic tourism subsidy scheme due to technical glitches in the system. The Tourism Authority of Thailand’s (TAT) online platform has gasped to a halt for maintenance, just as criticism over sluggish processes mounts.

 

Prachoom Tantiprasertsuk, a leader in marketing at the Thai Hotels Association, reveals numerous hotels are stepping back until system stability is assured. The back-end issues leave hotels unable to access crucial booking management, forcing them to turn away customers eager to take advantage of the subsidy.

 

The hitches led to a second closure of public registration for updates last Friday, sparking frustration aimed at the lack of readiness. Meanwhile, Tourism and Sports Minister Sorawong Thienthong is in talks with TAT, hoping to resolve these operational headaches swiftly.

 

A recent conversation between TAT and representatives of over 1,200 hotels shed light on four pressing problems. Chief among them is the rigid pricing method, which locks in rates, preventing hotels from adjusting prices in response to market changes. This inflexible structure allows only three room types per property, exacerbating complications.

 

The antiquated technology further fails to support automatic verification of payment slips. Ms Prachoom, formerly with Dusit International, warns this manual checking increases risk and burdens staff. Both Dusit Thani in Pattaya and Hua Hin responded by halting new scheme bookings but honouring existing paid reservations.

 

Hotels face a lengthy approval process hobbled by the insistence on using Krungthai Bank accounts, adding a 3-4 day delay for verification. Dusit isn’t alone in its struggles—Minor Hotels reports that, while all 26 of its Thai properties are in the system, only eight have passed the bank's rigorous scrutiny.

 

Currently, 2,292 hotels have managed to publish rates on the TAT site, yet 3,047 await bank verification. Despite the registration halt, hotels are still free to join the scheme, and verified users can continue booking, albeit amid these tumultuous times.

 

The tourism sector watches eagerly, hopeful for a swift resolution that will stabilise the process and restore faith in the subsidy scheme’s viability.

 

  Adapted by ASEAN Now from Bangkok Post 2025-07-05

 

 

[blaze master]

Plenty of room at the hotel California...any time of year...you can find it here.

[norsurin]

TAT TIT.

[roamer]

The problem with ideas is it's all in the execution.🙄

[JoePai]

 Krungthai  is a pain to deal with - use real banks, K Bank, Bangkopk ,SCB etc.

[bg53]

Sounds like the hotels are frustrated because of how strict the approval process is.

 

Guess that shows how much the government wants to curb abuses?

[JAG]

3 hours ago, webfact said:

Chaos erupts as Thai hotels, including big names like Dusit, pause involvement in the domestic tourism subsidy scheme due to technical glitches in the system.

And there, amidst the chaos, sits Krungthai Bank!

 

What a surprise!

[watchcat]

1 minute ago, JoePai said:

 Krungthai  is a pain to deal with - use real banks, K Bank, Bangkopk ,SCB etc.

 

Indeed, they're even employed whitout any english knowledge.

[JimHuaHin]

Thailand - technology hub?

[cdemundo]

Sounds like mostly a failed IT implementation.

I always wonder about nepotism/cronyism when IT projects go off the rails.

"My son studied coding for 6 months, he can build the needed IT support".

Or people who coded phone apps thinking they can build a multiuser business system.

Or plain old graft, IT contract to the company with the juiciest bribe?

 

Seems like a professional IT company could have implemented the requirements, not exactly a problem on a par with a mission to Mars as far as unique challenges.

Now fixing a system that was screwed up from the start, there's a challenge.

 

[JAG]

6 minutes ago, cdemundo said:

Sounds like mostly a failed IT implementation.

I always wonder about nepotism/cronyism when IT projects go off the rails.

"My son studied coding for 6 months, he can build the needed IT support".

Or people who coded phone apps thinking they can build a multiuser business system.

Or plain old graft, IT contract to the company with the juiciest bribe?

 

Seems like a professional IT company could have implemented the requirements, not exactly a problem on a par with a mission to Mars as far as unique challenges.

Now fixing a system that was screwed up from the start, there's a challenge.

 

Like any Thai based computer system, far better to delay implementation until the school holidays when expert help is available.

[HappyExpat57]

4 hours ago, webfact said:

Chaos erupts

Why is it always "Chaos erupts?"

[CHdiver]

3 minutes ago, HappyExpat57 said:

Why is it always "Chaos erupts?"

Because it's written by AI witch leads to a permanent panic mode in articels. 

[NE1]

and does this AI witch have a real or digital broomstick ?.......😀

[proton]

Looks like it was impossible to sign up for the scheme anyway. Mrs tried from day one, for hours, neither her or her many friends managed to do it, another online fiasco.

[daveAustin]

Anything the TAT have a hand in is a cluster Fk and doomed to fail. A bloated, anachronistic, xenophobic mashup if there ever were one. If there is another coup, please disband this embarrassment of a (dis)organisation. 

[dddave]

2 hours ago, roamer said:

The problem with ideas is it's all in the execution.🙄

The usual issue with anything IT from a Thai government agency.  Like all agencies, upper-management is overloaded with incompetent political appointees who wouldn't know a laptop from a lap-dance. 

[SABloke]

I really hate when journalist reference other topics, such as "the subsidy scheme" in this article (which is crucial to understanding the core issue) yet fail to briefly summarise what they are referencing. Readers shouldn't have to go read other articles in order to make sense of a current one🙄

[Sir Dude]

Very few Thai government ideas survive contact with reality... the Ministry of Grand Plans and Lofy Ideas at it again.

[arick]

6 hours ago, JoePai said:

 Krungthai  is a pain to deal with - use real banks, K Bank, Bangkopk ,SCB etc.

I would totally disagree with you it's one of the best banks

[bbbbooboo]

hmm… chaos in Thailand ?! Hard to believe ?

[JAS21]

The last scheme during Covid 1.0 worked very well for us, we had some cheap deals at some nice hotels. This time my wife has tried many times to register … failed every time so far.

[marin]

Just now, JAS21 said:

The last scheme during Covid 1.0 worked very well for us, we had some cheap deals at some nice hotels. This time my wife has tried many times to register … failed every time so far.

Brilliant the first time. We took advantage often. Its obvious this is a PT screw up again. Populace plans are spouted but totally fail. Think of the 10,000 baht handout. Not too much brain power running the country right now. 

[Negita43]

6 hours ago, JimHuaHin said:

Thailand - technology hub?

Nomads Nomads 

[hotchilli]

10 hours ago, webfact said:

The hitches led to a second closure of public registration for updates last Friday, sparking frustration aimed at the lack of readiness. Meanwhile, Tourism and Sports Minister Sorawong Thienthong is in talks with TAT, hoping to resolve these operational headaches swiftly

Thainess at the leading edge..

[proton]

Registration for this has been suspended now, sick of hearing about it from the mrs

[CLW]

42 minutes ago, bbbbooboo said:

hmm… chaos in Thailand ?! Hard to believe ?

On the other hand, the TDAC introduction went quite smoothly. 

Maybe police/immigration have better IT services than TAT

[VBF]

1 minute ago, CLW said:

On the other hand, the TDAC introduction went quite smoothly. 

Maybe police/immigration have better IT services than TAT

They did get some practice with the eVisa a few years ago.

That was "somewhat unwieldy" when introduced, but last time i used it, was easy as you like.

Maybe learning lessons?

[JimHuaHin]

First requirement - competent IT people with appropriate, yes appropriate, training and skills.

 

Second requirement - competent IT people with appropriate, yes appropriate, training and skills.

 

Third requirement - competent IT people with appropriate, yes appropriate, training and skills.

 

Thailand does not have many of these people, because Thailand does not train enough people.

 

 

[VBF]

10 hours ago, blaze master said:

Plenty of room at the hotel California...any time of year...you can find it here.

You must be Eagle-eyed to notice that 🤔😂😂