Thai Hotels Want a "Tourism War Room"
Skift Take
Thailand's Hotel Association wants a government "war room" to counter Vietnam's rising appeal as Russian tourists shift destinations.
The Hotel Association of Thailand said they believe the Thai government and private sector need a more serious approach to analyzing competitors like Vietnam, thereby developing strategies to attract tourists and new investment capital this year. They noted that the number of Russian tourists visiting Vietnam during the peak season has doubled. Even the Thai hotels focusing on the European market blamed the decline in group bookings on more of these tourists shifting to Vietnam. The THA believes Vietnam is finally having its moment in the sun as they continuously open new hotels and tourist attractions. Meanwhile, the Thai baht remains high against many other currencies, reducing price competitiveness. The THA wants a Tourism "War Room" with private sector involvement to prepare for the low season and long-term strategy. A survey of 107 hotels in December showed 4-star hotels and hotels in the southern region are planning to increase room rates, while the 3-star and below
