Thailand’s tourism revenue is projected to decline by 10-15% over the next two weeks due to last week’s earthquake, according to the Thai Hotels Association (THA).
THA President Thienprasit Chaiyapatranun reported on Monday that hotel checkouts surged by 8-10% nationwide following the quake, particularly in Bangkok, Chiang Mai, Chiang Rai, and Ayutthaya. Some tourists have since redirected their travel plans to Pattaya and Phuket instead.
The earthquake has shaken foreign travelers’ confidence, impacting both those who have already booked trips and those still considering visiting Thailand. As a result, hotel and tourism business revenues are expected to take a significant hit, especially with the Songkran festival approaching. Thienprasit estimated that the market would take about a month to recover.
Safety Concerns and Long-Term Impact
The collapse of the State Audit Office building in Bangkok’s Chatuchak district has gone viral on social media, raising concerns about Thailand’s building safety standards. Thienprasit emphasized the need for strict safety measures during Songkran to reassure both domestic and international tourists.
Recent security-related incidents—including the disappearance of Chinese actor Xing Xing near the Thai-Myanmar border, crackdowns on call center scams, and concerns over Uyghur repatriation—have already put pressure on Thailand’s tourism industry. The earthquake adds to these challenges, and another major security issue could lead to long-term damage to the sector.
Thienprasit now believes it will be difficult for Thailand to meet its target of 39-40 million foreign tourists this year. He expects arrivals to remain at last year’s level of 35.54 million visitors. To compensate, the government is considering launching domestic tourism stimulus programs like the “Tiew Thai Khon La Khrueng” co-payment scheme.
Government Actions and Safety Inspections
To restore tourist confidence, Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra has ordered nationwide hotel inspections. The THA is working with the Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) to deploy more than 4,000 engineers to assess building safety. A list of inspected and approved hotels will be published to reassure travelers.
While large hotels have their own engineers to conduct quick inspections, Thienprasit urged the government to subsidize safety inspections for smaller hotels that may not have the financial resources to do so.
“Safety must come first to ensure sustainable tourism growth,” he said, noting that Thailand has lost many foreign tourists due to security concerns. He also suggested that the government study Japan’s safety measures to enhance trust among Chinese and other international travelers.
