Political uncertainty hits TCC luxury hotels

The company is owned by beverage tycoon Charoen Sirivadhana-bhakdi.

Vice president Soammaphat Traisorat said most tourists cancelled their bookings after seeing the country's continued political uncertainty after last December's general election.

During the high season from last November to this past March, the group recorded an occupancy rate of only 70 per cent, down from an average of 80 per cent for the previous high season.

Meanwhile, bookings for the next high season, from this November to next March, are also sluggish, again because of continued concerns by tourists about local political problems.

"Most of our customers have asked about the country's political problems and delayed their decisions to visit Thailand," he said.

The company now owns 19

hotels and resorts nationwide, in Bangkok, Chiang Mai, Chiang Rai, Mae Hong Son, Phetchabun, Koh Samui, Phuket, Narathiwat and Cha-am.

However, the company's hotels and resorts abroad continue to record occupancy rates higher than those in Bangkok, especially in Singapore, Malaysia and Vietnam.

The company owns nine hotels and resorts abroad, in Singapore, Vietnam, Malaysia, China, Laos, Cambodia, the US and the UK.