PHUKET resorts suffering guest shortfalls after the Bangkok airport blockades have started to offer deals previously unheard of in the peak season months of December and January.
Teaming up with the Tourism Authority of Thailand, resorts and travel agents are putting together package deals to boost visitor numbers.Airlines involved have already slashed prices on Thailand-bound flights and domestic travel.
And word is getting out that Thailand, including Phuket, is becoming the hot place to book for those seeking holiday deals.
Britain's Times Online, in an article headlined ''Bargains for the brave'', reports that British travelers can now book at a number of luxury resorts for half the usual price, with Cape Panwa hotel offering eight nights for the price of four, a total of ????799pp, including flights. (Cape Panwa has since pointed out that this was a low-season only offer.)
Flight Centre's British site is selling 10 nights for the price of five at the Chedi Phuket: ????1355pp, including premium-economy flights, while Trailfinders has eight nights for the price of four at the Evason Phuket: ????889pp, including flights. Carrier is offering a package for eight nights at the Six Senses Hideaway Yao Noi for ????1985pp, including flights, a saving of ????1590.
Shanghai Daily reports that hotels and airlines were offering discounts for Chinese visitors to Thailand and quotes a tour operator saying prices would be 10 to 20 percent lower than usual in the spring.
Chinese tourists, though, were still concerned about safety in Thailand, said industry representatives.
Phuket.com has 10 Phuket resorts featured on a special promotion page, each offering an extra night free for stays of one to seven nights.
Jirapa (Sii) Eawsakul, CEO of Phuket.com site operator Asia Web Direct, told Phuketwan,
''At this stage deals are mainly based on value adds, ie free upgrades, free spa treatment, etc, as opposed to massive discounting.
''We have seen some price cutting, but this has been limited, hotels can't afford to cut too drastically and upset clients that have already booked and confirmed on the high rate. This would have a rate dilution effect.''
Khun Sii added that visitors were not necessarily favouring well established resorts over new ones.
''These days we see that clients are more independent and don't necessarily want to visit the usual places, they are more adventurous and savvy, and go where the deals take them.''
Following a number of cancellations immediately after the airport closures, Khun Sii says, ''Things have definitely started to improve since the re-opening, in particular our last-minute booking site LateStays.com has certainly increased business.
"This trend towards booking last-minute started long before the airport closures."
The TAT announced on December 18 that it had launched a Super Deal website (www.thailandsuperdeal.com), working together with the travel industry and the "National Confidence Restoration Commission" to win back tourists.
Among the Phuket resorts involved is the Burasari boutique resort in Patong offering rooms for 2000 baht a night.
Centara Resorts across Thailand is offering a ''buy one get one free'' deal, while Amari Hotels and Resorts is offering rooms at 1135 to 5950 baht. Both of these hotel groups have Phuket resorts.
Many of these promotions are aimed at not only foreign visitors, but Thais and expatriates living in Thiland, in an effort to increase domestic travel.
Phuket's largest hotel group, Laguna, is listing these offers under a promotion called ''Thai Tour Thai'' on the TAT Super Deal site: Allamanda Laguna Phuket 2299 to 4599 baht; Laguna Holiday Club Phuket Resort 1999 to 3599 baht; Laguna Holiday Club Residences 7999 to 13999 baht.
A Thai-language tour booking website, Krabi Information (www.krabiinformation.com), has a ''Special Package Krabi 3 Days 2 Nights'' for 1999 baht/person on the TAT site.
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Teaming up with the Tourism Authority of Thailand, resorts and travel agents are putting together package deals to boost visitor numbers.Airlines involved have already slashed prices on Thailand-bound flights and domestic travel.
And word is getting out that Thailand, including Phuket, is becoming the hot place to book for those seeking holiday deals.
Britain's Times Online, in an article headlined ''Bargains for the brave'', reports that British travelers can now book at a number of luxury resorts for half the usual price, with Cape Panwa hotel offering eight nights for the price of four, a total of ????799pp, including flights. (Cape Panwa has since pointed out that this was a low-season only offer.)
Flight Centre's British site is selling 10 nights for the price of five at the Chedi Phuket: ????1355pp, including premium-economy flights, while Trailfinders has eight nights for the price of four at the Evason Phuket: ????889pp, including flights. Carrier is offering a package for eight nights at the Six Senses Hideaway Yao Noi for ????1985pp, including flights, a saving of ????1590.
Shanghai Daily reports that hotels and airlines were offering discounts for Chinese visitors to Thailand and quotes a tour operator saying prices would be 10 to 20 percent lower than usual in the spring.
Chinese tourists, though, were still concerned about safety in Thailand, said industry representatives.
Phuket.com has 10 Phuket resorts featured on a special promotion page, each offering an extra night free for stays of one to seven nights.
Jirapa (Sii) Eawsakul, CEO of Phuket.com site operator Asia Web Direct, told Phuketwan,
''At this stage deals are mainly based on value adds, ie free upgrades, free spa treatment, etc, as opposed to massive discounting.
''We have seen some price cutting, but this has been limited, hotels can't afford to cut too drastically and upset clients that have already booked and confirmed on the high rate. This would have a rate dilution effect.''
Khun Sii added that visitors were not necessarily favouring well established resorts over new ones.
''These days we see that clients are more independent and don't necessarily want to visit the usual places, they are more adventurous and savvy, and go where the deals take them.''
Following a number of cancellations immediately after the airport closures, Khun Sii says, ''Things have definitely started to improve since the re-opening, in particular our last-minute booking site LateStays.com has certainly increased business.
"This trend towards booking last-minute started long before the airport closures."
The TAT announced on December 18 that it had launched a Super Deal website (www.thailandsuperdeal.com), working together with the travel industry and the "National Confidence Restoration Commission" to win back tourists.
Among the Phuket resorts involved is the Burasari boutique resort in Patong offering rooms for 2000 baht a night.
Centara Resorts across Thailand is offering a ''buy one get one free'' deal, while Amari Hotels and Resorts is offering rooms at 1135 to 5950 baht. Both of these hotel groups have Phuket resorts.
Many of these promotions are aimed at not only foreign visitors, but Thais and expatriates living in Thiland, in an effort to increase domestic travel.
Phuket's largest hotel group, Laguna, is listing these offers under a promotion called ''Thai Tour Thai'' on the TAT Super Deal site: Allamanda Laguna Phuket 2299 to 4599 baht; Laguna Holiday Club Phuket Resort 1999 to 3599 baht; Laguna Holiday Club Residences 7999 to 13999 baht.
A Thai-language tour booking website, Krabi Information (www.krabiinformation.com), has a ''Special Package Krabi 3 Days 2 Nights'' for 1999 baht/person on the TAT site.
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