The Thai Hotels Association's Southern Chapter has urged the authorities to increase direct flights from Europe to Phuket to stabilise tourism amid travel disruptions caused by the Middle East war.
Thanawat Ongcharoen, the association's vice president for administration, said the situation in the Middle East in early March caused sudden disruptions in the aviation sector, with several airlines suspending flights. The abrupt halt created panic and left many travellers unable to adjust their plans in time, he said.
European arrivals at Phuket International Airport between March 16 and 29 declined by 4%, he said. Typically, European tourist numbers grow by 1–2%, but the heavy reliance on Middle East transit routes, used by about 25–30% of flights, made the impact more severe, he said.
In contrast, Asian markets performed strongly, especially China, which saw a 47% increase in arrivals during the first half of March. As a result, overall hotel occupancy in Phuket remained stable, he added.
Many hotels catering to Middle Eastern tourists reported sharp drops in occupancy, while others saw only slight declines but struggled to maintain pricing, he said. This is due to limited flight options, with only a few airlines operating normally, he noted.
Meanwhile, the Oceania market, including Australia and New Zealand, continued to grow, he said.
Overall, tourist arrivals in mid-March still recorded a modest increase of 1.45%, he said. However, Phuket's hotel supply has expanded by 10–15%, outpacing demand growth of just 1–2%, putting pressure on occupancy rates, he said.
Length of stay also plays a key role, he said. Short-haul Asian tourists stay about 6–7 days, while Middle Eastern visitors typically stay 13–14 days, he said.
Mr Thanawat said Phuket is now in its low or "green" season (April–June), and Russia, India and China are the key markets supporting the province's tourism during this period.
He added European travellers, particularly those from Germany and France, tend to stay longer, usually over 10 days.
Therefore, increasing direct flights from Europe to Thailand could help reduce travel costs for them and support their demand, he said. "Our association is calling on the government to increase the number of direct flights from Europe to Phuket to strengthen tourism stability and ensure more reliable air travel routes," said Mr Thanawat.
Asst Prof Chayanon Phucharoen, of Prince of Songkla University's Phuket Campus, said hotel room rates have increased only slightly despite rising oil prices, and hotels have maintained prices and are offering promotions, especially ahead of Songkran, to attract domestic tourists.
