Bangkok hotels forced to drop rates
If you don’t mind a bit of traffic disruption and a lot of noise, now is the time to find a hotel bargain in Bangkok.
Several hotels in areas near anti-government demonstrations have launched promotions, mainly discounts, to attract protesters participating in the "Bangkok shutdown".
Hotels are reporting that occupancy levels have dropped from 70-80% to 40-60%.
Centara Hotels has reduced the room rates of its four major hotels by 40%, while Novotel Bangkok Siam Square is offering discounts for overnight as well as daytime stays.
Many hotel operators, especially near rally sites, have adjusted their business strategies by cutting costs as much as possible. This includes staff cuts.
Thailand’s overall tourism industry continues to hold up, according to figures released by the Tourism Authority of Thailand .
In the first two weeks of January, foreign arrivals at Suvarnabhumi International Airport dropped by 2.58 per cent to 604,189 compared with the same period last year.
However, attention is now focused on Chinese New Year. Already 40% of tour packages from Hong Kong for Chinese New Year have reportedly been cancelled.
The flow of European tourists is stable. Europeans have continued heading to beach resorts in the south, while Russians are avoiding Bangkok and heading to Pattaya, Phuket or Krabi.
On the streets of Bangkok, the situation is increasingly tense.
The Bangkok residence of Abhisit Vejjajiva, the Democrat Party leader, was the target of a grenade attack on Tuesday night, while two people near one of the rally sites were reported to be injured in a shooting.
Ian Jarrett
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