A large number of travellers from long-haul destinations have been affected by the limited operations of Middle Eastern airlines. Kasmaporn Limpanapongthep, president of the Krabi Hotel Association, said higher airfares and rising energy costs are expected to affect both tourist demand and operating expenses for hotels. “During the first two weeks of the war, hotels in Krabi worked together to offer stranded guests special support, such as discounted rates,” she said. She said the Chinese government has intensified domestic tourism campaigns for several years and may place even greater emphasis on sustaining domestic consumption. “The Thai government should also rely on the domestic market as the most dependable resource during the crisis,” said Ms Kasmaporn.

Source: Bangkok Post March 17, 2026 23:08 UTC