International visitation to Bangkok decreases compared to Q1 previous year

• Bangkok welcomed more than 6.8 million international tourists in the first three months of the year, a decrease of 6.6% from the same period last year, likely from the drop in Chinese tourists, yet numbers are slightly higher than pre-pandemic times.
• In 2023 (latest data available), mainland China regained its position as the largest source market for Bangkok, followed by South Korea and India. However, inbound Asian tourists decreased in Q1 due to safety concerns and economic headwinds.

More than 1,400 new rooms opened in Q1

• Seven hotels opened in Bangkok in the first three months of the year, adding a total of 1,442 new rooms to the capital city, 80% of which are in the midscale segment.
• Three hotels in the luxury and ultra luxury segments are anticipated to open in 2025: the 52-key Aman Nai Lert Bangkok, the 244-key Andaz One Bangkok and the 419-key Fairmont Bangkok Sukhumvit.

RevPAR continues to increase despite lower occupancy

• Hotel revenue per available room continued to increase from last year despite a slight drop in occupancy as a result of the current global economic situation, which led to a wait-and-see approach from tourists.
• When looking at trading performance by segment, only economy to midscale hotels in Bangkok have recorded an improvement in both occupancy and ADR, leading to the strongest growth y-o-y in RevPAR.

Outlook: The Grand Festivity initiative to boost year-round travel

• Near-term challenges persist, including global inflationary pressures, geopolitical tensions, and budgets and labour pressures, potentially slowing the industry’s momentum by disrupting traditional travel patterns. A key focus for 2025 is tailoring offerings to Chinese tourists, emphasising both safety and security while acknowledging global volatility.
• Despite economic and geopolitical challenges, Bangkok’s hospitality sector shows resilience and potential for ongoing recovery and expansion, fuelled by the city’s appeal and developments.