A robust tourism high season in the fourth quarter remains possible as forward bookings are nearly full for the Pimilai luxury resort on Koh Lanta, enabling it to raise room rates following the resumption of direct flights to Krabi.
Charintip Tiyaphorn, co-owner of Pimalai Resort & Spa, said the resort targets 600 million baht in revenue for 2026, a 5% increase year-on-year, even though the occupancy rate is expected to remain unchanged at 69%.
The resort is nearing full bookings for January and February next year, as long-haul tourists have started planning their trips earlier in order to secure seats on direct flights that bypass a transit in Middle East hubs.
Airlines such as SAS and Finnair are launching winter flights to Krabi.
Following a memorandum of understanding between the US and Iran to end the war, Ms Charintip said Middle Eastern carriers might fully resume flights to Thailand and offer promotional fares, particularly for routes connecting Asia and Europe, which will increase high-season traffic.
Many European tourists may choose Thailand over the Maldives, another popular destination, due to lower prices for similar standards of services and facilities, helping them save money amid economic uncertainty, she said.
However, Ms Charintip acknowledged that bookings for the low season remain subdued.
Many tourists cancelled trips in March and April due to flight disruptions in the Middle East, while bookings in June also declined by 5%.
Before the US-Iran war, Pimalai expected an average occupancy of 75% for 2026, up from 70% last year, but it downgraded its forecast to 69%.
She said the resort seeks to push its low-season occupancy rate above 50% by offering promotional packages and targeting more short-haul guests, such as from China and India.
Pimalai also invested in renovating wellness facilities to attract longer-stay guests during the high season, capitalising on the wellness tourism trend.
The resort has around 50 rai of undeveloped land next to the beach, out of a total of 250 rai.
Ms Charintip said the resort cannot expand or construct larger buildings, as it is required to comply with Koh Lanta's green zone regulations.
The regulations are reviewed every five years, and if development conditions are eased it may explore options to expand the resort, she noted.
This past week the cabinet approved the use of mangrove forest land for the Koh Lanta bridge that connects Koh Lanta Noi and Koh Klang.
Ms Charintip said the project could improve transport links between Koh Lanta and mainland Krabi, reducing congestion on ferry queues, particularly during the high season.
The government should work to attract more flights to Krabi, as the province still has room for growth, she noted.
