Bangkok Post
Peace deal unlikely to revive tourism
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Hotels and airlines remain cautious about the potential end of the Middle East conflict as the positive impact could be delayed due to a steep slowdown in purchasing power, particularly among domestic tourists, during this low season.
Key facts
- La-iad Bungsrithong, a board advisor for the Thai Hotels Association, said the low season in 2026 is the weakest in years, with the average occupancy rate in Chiang Mai only 40-45%, while some locations are recording rates as low as 35%.
- Thai Lion Air has reduced seat capacity by 15% since the war in the Gulf erupted and needs to assess how lower fuel prices could affect airfares from next month, said Mrs Nuntaporn.
- Hotels and airlines remain cautious about the potential end of the Middle East conflict as the positive impact could be delayed due to a steep slowdown in purchasing power, particularly among domestic tourists, during this low season.
- Nuntaporn Komonsittivate, head of commercial at Thai Lion Air, said the average load factor for June and July has fallen year-on-year, as travellers are exercising greater caution with their spending in the off-peak season after shelling
- As of May 31, the number of domestic trips rose year-on-year by 1.77% to 86.7 million, with Bangkok, Chon Buri and Kanchanaburi seeing most visits.
Summary
Nuntaporn Komonsittivate, head of commercial at Thai Lion Air, said the average load factor for June and July has fallen year-on-year, as travellers are exercising greater caution with their spending in the off-peak season after shelling out for holidays in April and early May.
Even though a brighter outlook is expected if the US and Iran sign a ceasefire on Friday, Mrs Nuntaporn said fuel prices will not immediately return to pre-war levels, unlike crude oil prices, which have fallen to nearly the same level as before the war.