Thai hotel sector faces rising closures after widespread losses

Thai hotel closures rose 42% in the first nine months of 2026 after 51% of operators posted losses in 2025, with KResearch warning of further pressure in 2027.

Thailand’s hotel and accommodation sector is facing mounting pressure from weak tourism demand, rising competition and high operating costs, with business closures accelerating after more than half of operators reported losses last year.

KASIKORN RESEARCH CENTER (KResearch) said 148 hotel and accommodation businesses registered their closure during the first nine months of 2026, up 42% from the same period a year earlier.

Meanwhile, about 51% of operators recorded losses in 2025, with smaller businesses the most vulnerable. Around 54% of small operators were loss-making, while 42% had accumulated losses for three consecutive years from 2023 to 2025. Overall, 38% of hotel and accommodation operators recorded accumulated losses throughout the three-year period.

KResearch warned that the outlook for 2027 remained highly uncertain as the tourism recovery stays uneven, competition intensifies and operating costs face further upward pressure.

Hotel market grows, but recovery remains uneven
Thailand’s hotel and accommodation market is expected to be worth about THB1.1 trillion in 2026, up 2.6% from 2025.

Accommodation accounts for about 77% of sector revenue, with the remaining 23% coming from areas including catering, meetings, seminars, food and beverages.

The industry comprises about 15,000 operators, more than 98% of them small and medium-sized businesses, and employs around 430,000 people. Its market value is equivalent to about 5.7% of Thailand’s gross domestic product at current prices, according to KResearch.

Despite overall revenue growth supported by international meetings and conferences and continued domestic travel, the recovery has not been evenly distributed.

New business registrations also slowed. A total of 779 hotel and accommodation businesses were established during the first nine months, down 31.2% year on year, although the figure remained above the comparable level in 2024.

Source: TheNation 

#THAILAND - Other provinces demand extended nightlife hours too

 

What about us?!

With nightlife venues in Phuket, Chon Buri, Bangkok and Chiang Mai being granted extended opening hours, other provinces want to do the same. From December 15, bars and clubs in 4 popular tourism provinces can remain open until 4am (previously 2am) for a trial period.

The move is one of several introduced by PM Srettha Thavisin, in a bid to boost Thailand’s economy and the tourism sector. It is not yet known how long the trial will last and if or when it will be extended nationwide.

Nightlife operator Pichanont Ingprasarn, who co-owns a number of venues in the eastern provinces of Trat, Chanthaburi and Rayong, says he’s hopeful the government will extend the later hours to other parts of the country, if it proves to be advantageous for tourism and the economy.

“If the extension boosts tourism and local economy in the four provinces, other provinces should also be allowed to add opening hours. The government should look at other provinces with the potential for tourism growth, such as Rayong and Trat, which have tourist attractions (such as Koh Chang in Trat). Nightlife venues there are also the targets of foreign tourists.”

The nightlife operator goes on to say that more venues on Koh Chang should be eligible to apply for operating licences, adding that stricter law enforcement is required to prevent underage drinking and other issues.

Meanwhile, tourism operators on Koh Samui want to know when the island’s nightlife venues will be allowed to open for longer. Ratchaporn Poonsawat from the Koh Samui Tourism Association says despite talks that stretch back to the previous administration, Koh Samui has been excluded from the latest trial, despite being a popular tourism destination.

Source - Phuket.Go

Khao San "busy" on first night of alcohol rule easing - patrons need to be double vaxxed or take 100 baht ATK test to enter

INN reporters went to Bangkok's famed tourism street of Khao San Road last night - the first night when approved restaurants were allowed to serve alcohol until 11 pm.

They found the area busy with operators thankful that their trade is increasing at last.

Both foreigners and Thais were enjoying the night out - albeit not a very late one when it comes to enjoying a beer.

Strict protocols are in place. To enter you need to be double vaccinated.

If not then you have to take a 100 baht ATK swab test and be negative to proceed inside.

INN didn't report on any positive cases though they did say that the local police were patrolling occasionally to make sure everyone was behaving themselves.

Source - ASIAN NOW

 

VISA AGENT  /  How to register for: THAI PASS

.

 

 

#Thailand - Jet-skis, parasail rides banned until Thursday on Phuket’s west coast

The acting chief of the Phuket Marine Office has announced a ban on jet-ski and parasail ride operators using Phuket’s west-coast beaches, including today. 

 Wiwat Chitcherdwong said: “According to the Thai Meteorological Department Office, heavy rain and high waves of up to 3 metres are still affecting the Andaman Sea until Thursday, August 9.” 

“Jet-skis and parasails are now being banned until the order is changed.” he added.

 Source - TheNation

#Thailand - New safety rules for public transport vans enforced.

.

The Land Transport Department has begun enforcing strict safety rules targeting public transport vans - including a 13-passenger limit.

The rules also require vans to have an emergency exit that can be opened from the inside with a visible, reflective Thai sign identifying it, a 20 centimetre-wide walking space to reach the emergency exit and at least three glass-breaking hammers on the left, the right and the back of vans.

Van operators who fail to comply with the rules face fines of Bt500 to Bt5,000 and having their license suspended for up to six months.

On the first day of enforcement of the new rules on Monday, in which fines were capped at Bt500, many vans at Bangkok's Victory Monument complied with the requirements. 

Reducing the seating capacity from 15 seat to 13 aims to ensure there is enough space for passengers to quickly reach the emergency exit.

The department will also require fixed-route vans in Bangkok and elsewhere to submit their vehicles for an inspection and registration check on June 5 or July 5. 

Chartered vans will be inspected on August 5. 

Those who fail to comply face a maximum fine, the department warned.

Source - TheNation

Ps,  13 persons exclusive luggage is anyway to much.

.

Tonne of trash collected in clean-up at Hei Island in #Phuket

.

About a tonne of trash was collected during a beach clean-up at Hei Island (Coral Island) in Phuket yesterday.

More than a 100 people, including students from Prince of Songkla University’s Phuket campus, volunteer divers, local vendors and operators, and company workers participated in the morning initiative.

The move involved collecting trash both on the beach and underwater. Among the items collected were fishing nets, glass bottles and rubber tyres.

“We are doing business on Hei island, so this effort is our way of saying ‘thank you’. Cleaning up the island will not only help preserve marine life, but also play a big part in improving tourism,” said Suriya Thamchu, chairman of Nonthasak Marine Co Ltd, which organised the clean-up.

 “We received positive feedback so we plan to do this again in the near future,” he said.

Source - TheNation 

.

FOR THE BEST GLOBAL HOTEL & FLIGHT BOOKINGS

“We received positive feedback so we plan to do this again in the near future,” he said.