OCCUPANCY rates of 20 to 25 percent on Phuket can be expected this coming low season, says Tunyaratt Achariyachai, Phuket-based Chairman of the Standing Committee on Tourism of the Senate.

''The three-star resorts are the ones who may have problems,'' she told Phuketwan.

''The pressure for guests will mean the resorts in higher categories will be offering better deals, pushing down on three-stars from above.''

Khun Tunyaratt's husband, Pramuk, is owner of one of Phuket's leading hotel brands, the Kata Group.

Fourteen countries continue to carry travel warnings to varying degrees about Bangkok and Thailand, with only Belgium so far removing its warning.

Other travel alerts are likely to continue until the state of emergency for Bangkok and five neighboring provinces is dropped by Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva.

Khun Tunyaratt said the problems caused by the latest political disturbance in Bangkok would affect Thailand's tourism industry for six months.

Jobs would probably be sacrificed, she said.

She said there were still some constant problems to be resolved, including complaints from returned tourists to TAT offices in Germany about extortionate tuk-tuk prices.

''Tuk-tuk drivers need to think long-term,'' she said. ''They damage the image of Phuket. Soon, because of the economic downturn, everyone will be choosing to walk.

''Perhaps today the tuk-tuks have customers, but tomorrow at those prices, there will not be very many.''

Jobs at resorts may go as soon as May, says Anuchon Varinsathien, Chief of the Phuket Provincial Office of Labour Protection and Welfare.

''April, because of the Songkran-Easter boost, turned out to be not a bad month for resorts,'' he said. ''But from next month, the outlook is likely to deteriorate rapidly.''

He said that resorts wishing to lay off staff need to follow the law and make sure they pay rightful entitlements.

''It's not easy to find good staff so many resorts will be trying to keep good people.''


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