Officials expect SEA Games to generate at least B2 billion

Business News - Tuesday December 11, 2007

TOURISM / NAKHON RATCHASIMA

Officials expect SEA Games to generate at least B2 billion

CHADAMAS CHINMANEEVONG

The ongoing SEA Games in Nakhon Ratchasima will bring more than 200,000 visitors and generate revenue of more than two billion baht for the province, tourism officials say.

''This is the first time we will see 100% hotel bookings in Nakhon Ratchasima. Usually, the occupancy rate stands at 60% to 70% in the high season,'' said Auttaphol Wannakij, the director of the Tourism Authority of Thailand's Northern Office.

Local businesses, particularly tourist-related ones and restaurants, are benefiting from the sports competition. As a result, he estimated that this year tourist-related businesses would generate revenue of nine billion baht for the province, up 50% from six billion baht last year.

Mr Auttaphol noted that rooms in downtown Nakhon Ratchasima were fully occupied from Dec 4 to Dec 14. Visitors who have not reserved rooms must move to stay in nearby districts such as Pak Chong and Chok Chai.

Most of the tourists are Vietnamese and Lao nationals. Lao officials are in the city to learn about how to organise the SEA Games to prepare for when their country hosts the event in 2009.

The 180-room Dusit Princess Korat is fully booked, compared with normal occupancy of 70% in the high season.

''After learning the SEA Games organisation in Korat two year ago, the hotel decided to invest 120 million baht in renovations, particularly to welcome athletes and staff,'' said Phakapol Yawaluk, the hotel's general manager. ''Most of our guests in the SEA Games period came from Singapore, Brunei and Malaysia.''

The budget Siri Hotel is also enjoying 100% occupancy for the first time since it was established.

''It is not only ourselves who are enjoying overbooking, but all of the hotel operators downtown are having a good time,'' said Sompoj Chaithakarnkul, the Siri Hotel's general manager.

''I believe that tourists will flood the province on the weekend (Dec 8-9) and the number of rooms in downtown areas will not be enough to serve them all.''

The TAT estimated that the number of hotel rooms in Nakhon Ratchasima totalled around 7,615 in 2006, or 82% more than the year before. Last year, 4.96 million tourists visited Nakhon Ratchasima. Of those, only 93,986 were foreigners.

On average, each tourist stayed in Nakhon Ratchasima one day and spent 866 baht per day, said the TAT.

By : Bangkok Post