Tourism/hotel occupancy rate

Chatrudee Theparat

Hotel average occupancy rates in the first quarter of this year was at 75.27%, a sign that shows that Thai tourism is en route to recover almost to reach the pre-Covid-19 level.

Last year, its occupancy rates was at 70.24 %.

Danucha Pichayanan, secretary general of the National Economic and Social Development Council (NESDC), said its rates improvement has showed a sign of Thai tourism recovery to reach almost the pre-Covid-19 level.

Danucha Pichayanan

Accommodation and food service expanded at a high percentage level of 11.8%, up from 9.8 % in the previous quarter, thanks to the rising number of foreign and domestic visitors.

The number of Thai tourists was 67.990 million trips, or up 8.6%, generating 232 billion baht revenue. It continuously increased for the 9th quarter with 10.2 % compared to 26.4 % in the previous quarter.

In this quarter, foreign tourists were 9.370 million (accounting for 92.01% of the total before the outbreak of COVID - 19), an increase of 43.5%. Revenue was 371 billion baht (accounting for 74.4% of the total before COVID - 19) which increased by 38.3%.

“This quarter, total income was 603 billion baht, up by 26 %. An average occupancy rate in this quarter was 75.27%, against 73.55 in the previous quarter, and higher than 70.24 % in the same quarter last year. This was the highest occupancy rate in the past 20 quarters.”

Accommodation and food service sectors expanded at a high percentage rate at 11.8, continuing from the percentage expansion 9.8 in the previous quarter following the increase in the number of foreign tourists and Thai tourism.

NESDC estimates that foreign tourists have recovered almost to the point before Covid-19 with a projection of 36.5 million foreign tourists, generating 1.38 trillion baht in income this year.

In this quarter, foreign visitors to Thailand were 9.37 million, which accounted for 9% of the total before COVID - 19, an increase of 43.5% from the same period last year.

Among the top 5 of foreign visitors to Thailand in Q1, China topped the rank with 1.756 million (18.74%), followed by Malaysia 1.169 million (12.47%) Russia with 0.623 million (6.65%) South Korea of 0.559 million (5.96%) and Indian of 0.473 million (5.05% )

Its big improvement is the result of implementing proactive measures to make easier for entry to Thailand such as exemption visas for Chinese and Kazakhstan tourists. For stay in Thailand not more than 30 days is also another example. The measure was implemented between September 25, 2023 and February 29, 2024.

Next is the introduction of permanent visa exemption only for Chinese tourists since the date March 1, 2024, together with the increasing number of flights and aviation routes of international airlines

Provinces with the highest number of Thai visitors, top 5 ( not including Bangkok ) are as follows:

Kanchanaburi- 3.559 million trips( 5.24% ),

Chonburi- 3.078 million trips (4.53%),

Phetchaburi- 2.921 million trips (4.30%)

Prachuap Khiri Khan- 2.861 million trips (4.21%)

Ayutthaya 2.380 million trips ( 3.50 %)

Revenue from Thai visitors in the first quarter was 2.32 billion baht, continuously increasing for 9 quarters, up by 10.2% compared to 26.4 % in the previous quarter.

As for the provinces with the highest real income from Thai visitors, the top 5 ( not including Bangkok ) included Chonburi (8.45%), Chiang Mai(7.48 %), Prachuap Khiri Khan(5%), Chiang Rai (4.86) and Phetchaburi ( 3.91%).

Tourism revenue hit 603 billion baht in ths quarter, up by 26%, thanks to the value of tourism services provided and Thai tourists spending.