Earthquake fears rattle Songkran hotel bookings by 25%
Thailand’s most festive time of year is shaping up to be a major letdown—hotel bookings for Songkran have taken a nosedive, thanks to shaky nerves over last month’s earthquake.
The Thai Hotels Association (THA) revealed on Thursday, April 3 that reservations across seven major tourist destinations have dropped by 25% compared to last year’s festival, spelling bad news for the hospitality sector.
“This year’s Songkran will not be as lively as last year,” warned Thienprasit Chaiyaphatranan, president of the THA. “We’re seeing a clear decline in both domestic and international bookings.”
The dramatic dip follows the 6.0-magnitude earthquake in Myanmar on March 28, which sent tremors rippling across northern and central Thailand, rattling confidence among travellers. The THA estimates that nearly 689,000 fewer tourists will visit during the Songkran holiday period from April 11 to 17.
A survey of 52 hotels in Bangkok, Krabi, Chon Buri, Chiang Rai, Chiang Mai, Phuket, and Surat Thani revealed the decline in bookings. Foreign tourist numbers have also taken a hit, with only 32,244 room nights booked for Songkran this year—down from 42,761 last year.
The trend is mirrored in overall projections: 2,067,846 foreign tourists are expected in Thailand this April, compared to 2,757,128 during the same period last year.
Thienprasit urged the government to act fast to rescue the ailing sector.
“We need immediate measures to stimulate the tourism industry, especially the domestic market. Tourism subsidy programmes must deliver tangible results—and quickly.”
To reassure skittish tourists, the THA is proposing a hotel safety certification sticker, similar to the SHA+ programme used during the Covid-19 pandemic. This would be awarded to hotels passing safety inspections by relevant authorities, reported The Nation.
Adding to the tourism woes, Thienprasit highlighted another concern—economic ripple effects from the United States.
“The recent tariff hike by the US government means Americans are likely to spend more on essentials, leading to fewer international trips. While the impact might not be immediate, it could hit hard in the next five to six months.”
With Songkran just around the corner, tourism operators are hoping for a last-minute rebound—but the mood across Thailand’s tourist hotspots is already feeling much cooler than usual.
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