More “FIT” tourists – so let’s put the prices of hotels up!

The Thai Hotelier’s Association is recommending that its members increase prices from between 5 and 10% as tourists come to the kingdom in greater numbers.

The move for 2017 comes as the association recognizes that independent travelers not connected to tour groups are on the rise.

These are the so called F.I.T. tourists – fully independent travelers.

THA chief Suphawan Thanormkiatphoom said yesterday that FIT tourists are on the rise and would represent 60 per cent of all arrivals by the start of 2018, reports Daily News.

Consequently it is a good idea for hoteliers to put their prices up so they can make more money from this group, she said.

Apparently less tour groups meant less direct competition in the industry and more opportunities for profit.

The association said that figures revealed that tourists to Thailand spent 26% on accommodation, their highest expenditure on a single item. This compares to slightly under 22% on shopping and 20% on food and drink.

In tourist hubs like London, Osaka and Seoul the association said that shopping represented 40% of the average tourist’s expenditure.

Thai Visa / Daily News

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