Bangkok hotels close doors as occupancy plummets
BANGKOK – As tension rises in Bangkok, hotels located around Ratchaprasong intersection are reported to be closing their doors until the threat of violence in the area recedes.
The Bangkok Post said that the hotels temporarily closing include Grand Hyatt Erawan, Holiday Inn and Centara Grand.
The Holiday Inn Bangkok occupancy has been as low as two per cent during the political protest by the red shirts faction.
“All are in bad shape as there are no tourists coming to the country,” Prakit Chinamourphong, president of the Thai Hotels Association, said yesterday.
More hotels are expected to follow the Holiday Inn’s lead, he said.
Those along Sukhumvit Road and the Chao Phya River are also facing the same situation, he said.
In Bangkok, the average occupancy rate is as low as 20 per cent – less than half of the 50 per cent seen during a normal low season, he said.
Kongkrit Hiranyakit, chairman of the Tourism Council of Thailand, said the government’s move to declare some demonstrators as terrorists only worsens the situation.
Many tourists have reconsidered their trips, since travel insurance does not cover acts of terrorism.
“This message carries even stronger negativity for the industry than the internal political tension,” he said.
Security forces have been positioned in key areas as the government reiterates its vow to keep the red shirts from the business district of Silom and reclaim Ratchaprasong intersection.
Hong Kong travel agents on Monday extended a ban on all tours to Bangkok until April 29 because of continuing political unrest in the Thai capital.
Ian Jarrett
Vegas’s Billion-Dollar Secrets – What They Don’t Want Tourists to Know
Visit Florida’s New CEO Bryan Griffin Shares His Vision for State Tourism with Graham
Chicago’s Tourism Renaissance: Graham Interviews Kristin Reynolds of Choose Chicago
Graham Talks with Cassandra McCauley of MMGY NextFactor About the Latest Industry Research
Destination International’s Andreas Weissenborn: Research, Advocacy, and Destination Impact
Graham and Don Welsh Discuss the Success of Destinations International’s Annual Conference
Graham and CEO Andre Kiwitz on Ventura Travel’s UK Move and Recruitment for the Role
Brett Laiken and Graham Discuss Florida’s Tourism Momentum and Global Appeal
Graham and Elliot Ferguson on Positioning DC as a Cultural and Inclusive Global Destination
Graham Talks to Fraser Last About His England-to-Ireland Trek for Mental Health Awareness
Kathy Nelson Tells Graham About the Honour of Hosting the World Cup and Kansas City’s Future
Graham McKenzie on Sir Richie Richardson’s Dual Passion for Golf and His Homeland, Antigua
ADS PRO 
Phocuswright reveals the world's largest travel markets in volume in 2025
Cyclone in Sri Lanka had limited effect on tourism in contrary to media reports
Higher departure tax and visa cost, e-arrival card: Japan unleashes the fiscal weapon against tourists
In Italy, the Meloni government congratulates itself for its tourism achievements
Singapore to forbid entry to undesirable travelers with new no-boarding directive