The Thai Hotels Association (THA) has urged the government to extend the state of emergency on a month-by-month basis rather for three months, to spur overseas forward bookings.
THA president Prakit Chinamourphong said the government's decision last week to extend the decree for three months would severely dent the tourism sector because tour operators overseas would not be able to sell Thailand to their customers in that period.
"Tour operators outside Thailand have urged the government to withdraw the decree, but the THA suggests that the government treat it on a month-by-month basis instead of three consecutive months. This step should help encourage new bookings from overseas markets," Prakit said.
According to the THA, hotel operators saw 40-45 per cent new bookings this month, lower than the 65-70 per cent during the same month last year.
Prakit said 19 countries had maintained their travel warnings because of the political uncertainty, but lowered the level.
According to the THA, the average hotel occupancy rate from January to June was 51 per cent, a slight rise from 49 per cent in the same period last year.
Hotels in Pattaya ran an average occupancy rate of 44.7 per cent, increasing from 39.9 per cent in the same period last year.
Hotels in the North had an occupancy rate of 41.3 per cent, growing fractionally from the first half of 2009. Hotels in the Western region were at 56 per cent, down from 67 per cent over the same period last year.
In Bangkok, average occupancy was 49.9 per cent, down from 51.9 per cent compared with the same period last year.
Hotels in the Southern region received 59 per cent, up from 56 per cent in the same period last year.
"The hotel business in the first quarter grew by 20 per cent, but business plunged in the second quarter because of the political unrest. So the association will try to stimulate new bookings from overseas in the third quarter," Prakit said.
To boost new bookings, 80 members will launch a "Buy One Get One Free Campaign" campaign from today until Sunday, offering special deals of Bt1,999 to Bt4,999 for two consecutive days of stay.
The promotion is part of the Amazing Thailand Grand Sales Fair being held at Queen Sirikit National Convention Centre.
Prakit urged the government to help operators suffering from the political chaos by approving soft loans and financial assistance to hotel staff.
Tourism Authority of Thailand governor Suraphon Svetasreni said the bomb blast outside Big C at Rajprasong on Sunday night would not affect the Smile@Rajprasong event organised by TAT.
The authority has asked webloggers in such key markets as the US, England and Australia to help promote tourism in Thailand in the second half of this year.
Kongkrit Hirankit, chairman of the Tourism Council of Thailand, said the bomb might affect tourist confidence in the short term. However, TAT and the council hoped that tourism would recover within the third quarter of this year.