Thailand hotel bookings fall as conflict, airfares weigh on tourism
Thailand- Hotels nationwide, spanning budget to luxury segments, are experiencing a sharp decline in forward bookings starting in May, according to the Thai Hotels Association (THA). Provinces heavily reliant on…
Hotel bookings across Thailand are dropping sharply for stays from May, the Thai Hotels Association said on April 30, with Phuket also affected as conflict in the Middle East pushes up jet fuel costs and airfares. The downturn is hitting properties from budget hotels to luxury resorts, while many long-haul travelers from Europe and the Middle East are delaying trips and some bookings for July and August have already been canceled.
Southern provinces post uneven occupancy forecasts
Phangnga, which depends heavily on European demand, is facing some of the steepest losses, with forward bookings down by as much as 50%. The province’s hotel occupancy rate for May is projected at just 20-30%.
Elsewhere in the South, Phuket is expected to post May occupancy of 40-60%, while Krabi and Phangnga Islands are forecast at 20-40%. European arrivals have fallen 17.5% in Phuket and 20-30% in Krabi, with notable declines from Germany and the UK.
Luxury hotels are also under pressure. High-end properties in Samui, Phuket and Krabi are forecast to average about 40% occupancy in May, down 3% year-on-year, as fewer holidaymakers and flight crews arrive.
Chinese growth fails to offset weaker European demand
Some Asian markets are still expanding. Chinese arrivals have risen by more than 100% in Krabi and 9% in Phuket, while Indian and Malaysian visitor numbers are also increasing.
Hotel operators say those gains have not replaced the revenue lost from higher-spending European guests, limiting room-rate growth during the low season. The weakness is emerging as Thailand enters its May-to-October lull and as northern hotels also face PM2.5 pollution, with average May occupancy there at 41.2%, down from 61.5% a year earlier.
The THA said second-quarter trading will likely be weaker than last year and urged the government to delay any new tourist entry fees, cut energy costs, address PM2.5 and support domestic tourism stimulus measures.
Source: https://thephuketexpress.com/2026/04/30/hotel-bookings-plunge-across-thailand-as-middle-east-conflict-and-high-airfares-hit-tourism/
