Photo Credit: Fine arts department
The alleged infiltration of Russian mercenaries is unlikely to impact tourism and daily life in Nakhon Ratchasima; however, authorities are being urged to resolve the Thailand-Cambodia border dispute promptly to prevent disruptions during the New Year holiday, as some hotels have reported cancellations exceeding 100 rooms since last week.
Over the weekend, Nakhon Ratchasima police advised the public to report any suspicious foreigners, which some suspect may be Russian mercenaries hired by Cambodia.
Rungroj Santadvanit, president of the lower northeastern chapter of the Thai Hotels Association, stated that the situation is still under investigation. His main concern is the renewed border conflict, which has led to the cancellation of all hotel bookings in the four border provinces.
Although Nakhon Ratchasima is not directly near the conflict zones, several hotels in the province have also experienced booking cancellations—for example, 120 rooms at Imperial Hotel Korat were canceled by travelers planning visits to Nakhon Ratchasima, Buri Ram, and Si Sa Ket as part of a single trip.
Mr. Rungroj emphasized that the caretaker government needs to end this dispute quickly to restore peace to the border provinces and prevent further conflicts. Such tensions threaten not only local livelihoods but also tourism, border trade, and the broader economy.
If the conflict persists for another one to two weeks, it could severely damage tourism during the New Year period in Korat. Some tourists might choose to travel north for cooler weather instead of visiting the natural parks in Nakhon Ratchasima.
Due to the ongoing border tensions, floods in the south, and reduced consumer spending, hotel occupancy rates in Nakhon Ratchasima are forecasted to be around 60-70% in December, down from the usual minimum of 80%.
Meanwhile, Panchana Vatanasathien, president of the Khao Yai Tourism Association, noted that the rumors about Russian mercenaries have not affected tourism in Khao Yai, as the area is far from the conflict zones. She added that Russia is not a major market for Khao Yai, accounting for roughly 5% of visitors.
Despite the lack of direct impact from the border dispute, concerns remain that prolonged tensions could dampen travel sentiment, leading domestic tourists to curtail holiday trips over safety and financial worries during the New Year period. Nevertheless, Khao Yai is expected to remain a popular destination for Thais during the holidays, given its proximity to Bangkok and the availability of diverse accommodation options at various price ranges.