Bangkok Post Jan 1, 2009
The number of new hotel rooms in Phuket will increase by 38 per cent this year notwithstanding the current domestic political situation and the international financial downturn.
Popular tourist destination Phuket could well suffer from an oversupply of hotel rooms in 2009.
In addition, 30 new hotels on the island are at various stages of development with over 4,918 rooms becoming available within the next three years, according to market research carried out by C9 Hotelworks, a hospitality consulting firm.
It found that there are nearly 40,000 rooms on offer in Phuket at the moment, ranging from guest houses to branded hotels. Approximately 10,000 of these are in international hotels.
There will be a 50 per cent increase in the number of international-standard units there, with 47 per cent of that figure being upscale and luxury hotels, 41 per cent midscale, nine per cent budget/economy and three per cent extended stay (villas/condominiums), according Bill Barnett, managing director of C9 Hotelworks.
2009 is set to see the largest surge in supply with 1,850 new rooms scheduled to open, he noted.
"Branding of hotels is also on the rise with 27 of the 30 hotels operated by international, regional and domestic chains. Thailand-based brands such as Anantara and Centara are growing at a rapid pace and regional chains such as Langham are now expanding into the country," he said.
The firm's market research also revealed that two locations, the east coast of Phuket and Phang Nga Bay, are set to define a whole new era in the luxury-property sector.
Comments