The sudden announcement of an additional vacation day this coming weekend will boost local tourism within the same region, yet most potential tourists would rather preserve their savings instead of travelling.
This week, the government has given the green light to July 31 as an additional day off, thus setting up a six-day holiday stretch from Friday until August 2.
Boonkerd Suksrikarn, who serves as the vice president of the Eastern Chapter of the Thai Hotels Association (THA), stated that the majority of four- to five-star accommodations in Pattaya and Chon Buri had already achieved high occupancy levels.
Specifically, these establishments surpassed 90% occupancy for the upcoming weekend even before the holiday extension declaration.
Although the extended holiday would be well-suited for international getaways, customers who had reserved stays did not cancel their travel plans to Pattaya.
In fact, some might exploit the extended break to travel to nearby provinces, such as Rayong, Chanthaburi or Trat.
He pointed out that the typical hotel occupancy rate in Chon Buri is projected to settle around 60-65% in July and August, in light of factors such as the off-season for long-haul tourists, limited flights, school commencements and the monsoon season.
This estimate falls short of the 70-80% rates documented during the same period in 2019.
Several hotels continue to anticipate the arrival of large travel groups from China and Vietnam, along with public agency meetings and seminars that might encounter difficulties if a new government is not established soon.
Mr Boonkerd expressed that hotel owners were anxious that local consumption, particularly in relation to tourism, might stagnate amidst political instability. Individuals would opt to conserve their finances for unforeseen situations, he added.
A significant number of hotels also express desire for the promotional initiative for domestic tourists to be sustained once the incoming government takes charge.
Kantapong Thananerngroth, the president of the Thai Tourism Promotion Association, noted that those journeying during this extended weekend are travelers who are undeterred by the high cost of living or are not burdened with debts.
Individuals with restricted budgets have already decided to skip their travel plans to allocate funds for other essential living expenses.
Nevertheless, as transportation costs remain high, Mr Kantapong suggested that travelers may choose to explore destinations closer to home.
For instance, residents of Bangkok or the Central region might opt to visit Wang Nam Khieo or Khao Yai, or perhaps even venture to Chon Buri or Rayong.
In spite of the prolonged vacation, Mr Kantapong stated that tourists may not extend their stay beyond four nights.
Yuthasak Supasorn, the chief of the Tourism Authority of Thailand, affirmed that destinations within approximately 200 kilometres would gain from the added day off.
