Phuket anticipates 60% hotel occupancy after Songkran
Thailand’s tropical paradise of Phuket anticipates a hotel occupancy rate of around 60% now that the Songkran Festival is over. There’s been a jump in the number of Chinese arrivals, even as the low season approaches, Bangkok Post reported.
According to Sueksit Suvunditkul, president of the southern chapter of the Thai Hotels Association, hotel bookings were at 86% occupancy in the first quarter of 2023. During the Songkran Festival, bookings were around 80%. Sueksit said that after Songkran, hotel bookings are expected to be 60% because Phuket is entering the low tourism season, which starts in June. He said…
“It’s the rainy season. But there will be international travellers from other markets such as Australia and the Middle East. Tourists from the European market will drop while tourists from the Chinese market will start to enter Phuket.”
Suvunditkul added that the number of travellers from China is expected to be surpassed only by those from Russia. The arrival of more Chinese visitors is expected by mid-year. During the low tourism season, visitors from Australia, the Middle East, China, India, Malaysia, and Singapore are expected to visit the province.
According to the Phuket immigration office, Russia led all arrivals to Phuket from April 1 to 15 with 36,999 tourists. They were followed by visitors from China (19,695), Australia (13,410), India (11,614) and England (11,462).
Last week, it was reported that the Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) is now pushing for 150,000 Saudi tourists this year. The year 2022 saw an incredible increase when the number of Saudi tourists climbed to 96,389. In the first three months of 2023, 21,388 Saudi tourists visited Thailand.
Given this upward trend, TAT has set a target of attracting 150,000 Saudi Arabian tourists this year, hoping that they will contribute up to 120 billion baht to the Thai economy. Siripakorn Cheawsamoot, TAT’s deputy governor of Europe, Africa, the Middle East, and the Americas, said that Saudi tourists spend an average of 100,000 baht per person on their short trips.
