Crisis-hit Phuket Tourism Operators Round On Govt

[george]

Crisis-hit Phuket tourism operators round on govt

PHUKET: -- The tourism industry in Thailand's southern resort island of Phuket today opened fire on the government, warning that its 'image-making' attempts to paper over the post-tsunami Andaman tourism crisis were plunging the region further into a period of low visitor numbers, with hotel occupancy down to a mere 10 percent.

Speaking in advance of a tourism workshop on 11 June, Mr. Chan Wongsatyanon, president of the upper southern-region branch of the Thai Tourism Service Association, described the crisis into which the Phuket tourism sector was entering.

"The tsunami on 26 December, the Indonesian earthquake on 28 March and the explosions at Hat Yai Airport have had a huge impact on Phuket tourism", he said.

"The hotel occupancy rate during April and May averaged 15-20 percent, and in June we forecast an occupancy rate of below 10 percent".

He also pointed to the fact that most airlines flying to the island had ceased operating there, with only Thai Airways, Malaysia Airlines and Silk Air still offering direct Phuket flights. Even these airlines were now thinking of reducing the number of flights, as they were facing heavy losses on the route.

On 11 June, the Thai Tourism Service Association is joining with the Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) and a number of airlines for a brainstorming session aimed at searching for ways out of the crisis.

Mr. Chan offered scant praise for government attempts to revive the region's tourism sector, saying that while the government had provided a certain level of assistance and support, there was little public participation, and all the restoration work was at government orders.

Target groups of tourists were still receiving little information on the area's revival, as the amount of news about the area's restoration was minimal in comparison with the news of the damage, he said, adding that tourists were switching to other destinations such as Vietnam and the Philippines as a result. If these tourist groups were impressed by the alternative destinations, pulling them back to Thailand would be difficult.

"The activities over the past 4-5 months have taken the form of short-term image-making, and have largely been activities aimed at domestic tourists", Mr. Chan said, adding that the province had also received little financial support for restoration work.

"The most important issue is how we can restore tourist confidence".

--TNA 2005-06-02

[george]

SOUTHERN TOURISM: Hotels have bleak view of future

20 per cent occupancy rates in Phuket

PHUKET: -- Hotels in the tsunami-struck southern provinces, already suffering from sharp falls in occupancy rates in the past five months, are not optimistic about their prospects for the next six months.

Resorts in Phuket recorded occupancy rates of only 20 per cent in April and May, compared with 70 per cent in the same period in 2004. Other Andaman Sea tourist provinces like Phang Nga and Krabi have also been hit hard. Worse yet, Japanese, one of the biggest tourist groups, have largely been no-shows.

In a dire sign of just how bad tourism has become in Thailand, the industry only generated Bt6 billion in revenues nationwide in April, compared to last year’s monthly average of Bt50 billion.

Hotels in the South should have recovered from the tsunami, which was spawned by a 9.1-magnitude earthquake off the coast of Sumatra on December 26, 2004. But a second earthquake in March and a bomb attack at the Hat Yai International Airport put further dampers on tourism, said Opas Netraumpai, honorary advisor to the Thai Hotels Association.

Hat Yai hotel occupancy fell to 30 per cent in April and May, from around 50 per cent in the same period last year. This year, all of the guests are domestic travellers.

Some Phuket hotel operators expect the Andaman hotel industry to continue struggling in the second half of this year. Right now, hoteliers are living in despair, as the low season settles in. The high season rolls in around October, but they are not sure about prospects when it does.

Hoteliers said apart from low occupancy rates, the South’s poor marketing plans combined with higher fuel prices and safety issues have forced many hotels to lay off staff.

“There are so many problems that hurt the hotel industry,” Opas said. He predicted the South would be hard-pressed to contribute 40 per cent of the country’s tourism revenues as it usually does.

But while tourists in general are steering clear of the three provinces and Hat Yai, hotels in other areas are enjoying higher occupancy rates.

For example, Koh Samui’s hotel occupancy has increased to 80 per cent from 70 per cent, said Prait Shinamourpong, vice president of THA.

To help the industry, the THA will ask airlines to not stray from their normal schedules and urge its members to hold meetings in the southern provinces to assist their industry counterparts.

Separately, the Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) is holding the Amazing Thailand Grand Sale until Sunday at Bangkok’s Queen Sirikit National Convention Centre. The promotion is a part of its efforts to help the industry in the South recover, as well as to boost domestic travel during the low season.

The event offers tourism products and services at discounts of 30 and 50 per cent from ordinary prices. A variety of goods and services are also on sale at special prices, including jewellery, healthcare and beauty products.

The Grand Sale will also be held in the country’s major cities: Chiang Mai, Pattaya, Phuket and Hat Yai through the end of July.

This month, the TAT and Thai investors will take part in the Beijing International Tourism Expo 2005 between June 22 and 24. A group will also attend the Xian and Taiyuan Road Show, to be held in Xian on June 27 and in Taiyuan on June 29.

These tourism events aim to boost the Chinese tourism market and celebrate 30 years of Sino-Thai relations.

--The Nation 2005-06-03

[The_Moog]

All part of the 'blame somebody, but not me' culture.

Looking at the website for one of the bigger hotels - looks to me they can start the improvements themselves.

4 nights in a sea view room - and 3 hours massage

= 44,000 baht

hang on, not its not.... I forgot the....

plus, plus, plus

so its 44,000 + + +

One of the plusses is "10% Service Charge"...........(isn't a hotel supposed to be about 'Service' anyway...no? ok)

Even if there isn't another tsunami, thats still a lot of moolah.

[RDN]

Crisis-hit Phuket tourism operators round on govt  ....

"The most important issue is how we can restore tourist confidence".

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Simple - spend the tsunami money on rebuilding or knocking down the eye-sores on the beaches. Ya Nui beach, today:

[sriracha john]

One might say that if they are worried about the low occupancy percentage, 10%, perhaps there's too many rooms. If there were fewer hotel rooms, the occupancy percentage rate would be higher. Just how many hotel rooms are there in over-developed Phuket??

[RDN]

Families don't want to go on holiday to a war zone or a tsunami zone. There's only so much sympathy people want to give. When it comes to a holiday, wouldn't you rather go to somewhere that looks clean and pretty? Or to a place like in the picture above?

Where's all the tsunami money gone? Why aren't there people knocking down or rebuilding the ruins that are dotted around the coastline?

The governor should get a grip on the money, hire people to do the work and get a bloody move on!

Or he should stop wringing his hands worrying about hotel occupancy rates and let the ex-pats who live here enjoy the peace and quiet. And ruins.

Edited June 3, 2005 by RDN

[Tornado]

I was at Yanui beach the day after the Tsunami - I see nothing has changed!!!!!!!!!!!

The Thaksin government was quick to say "we dont want any money from other countries, we can take care of our own" - where is the help? what money have they given to their people?

######s!

[Tornado]

One might say that if they are worried about the low occupancy percentage, 10%, perhaps there's too many rooms. If there were fewer hotel rooms, the occupancy percentage rate would be higher. Just how many hotel rooms are there in over-developed Phuket??

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

3000 hotel rooms Im told???

[Insight]

Families don't  want to go on holiday  to a war zone or a tsunami  zone. There's only so much sympathy people  want to give. When it comes to a holiday, wouldn't you rather  go to somewhere that looks clean and pretty?  Or to  a place like  in the picture above?

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

My folks are coming out here in August and they definitely what to make Phuket part of their trip. I know it's not the masses, but it does demonstrate that some people are not scared off all together...

[RDN]

My folks are coming out here in August and they definitely what to make Phuket part of their trip. I know it's not the masses, but it does demonstrate that some people are not scared off all together...

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Good for them! But they're in the minority, I'm sure. And I bet they're really coming to see just what you've been up to!

[sriracha john]

One might say that if they are worried about the low occupancy percentage, 10%, perhaps there's too many rooms. If there were fewer hotel rooms, the occupancy percentage rate would be higher. Just how many hotel rooms are there in over-developed Phuket??

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

3000 hotel rooms Im told???

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Thank you, Tornado... somehow I was expecting to hear there were even more than that.

[aletta]

Went to Phuket a couple of times when i did visa runs to Penang and not too impressed with the place.There's al ot of better places at a fraction of the price.

[Jeff Jarvis]

The recent news of police harrassing tourists at nite spots seems to be the wrong approach. Urine tests at the Q Bar, Bed Supperclub, etc. =dumb!

Tsunamis, Terrorists, Sars, Bird Flue, Early Closing Times, VISA fees, Human Rights Abuses and a reputation for corruption can discourage the average tourist.

[bambob]

blame thaksin he wont accept international aid so the situation just festers and gets worse.

he is ok in his penthouse though

[aletta]

I see the Red Cross was advertising in the Post for several Tsunami positions in the south.

I have not seen them say anything about the lack of help large numbers of people are not receiving.