ASIA Travel Tips.com

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In May 2009, hotels in the Asia Pacific region experienced double-digit decreases when reported in U.S. dollars for all three key performance metrics.

According to data compiled by STR Global, Asia Pacific’s hotel occupancy in May 2009 dropped 14.9% (when compared to May 2008) to 55.4 % while the average daily rate declined 15.2% to US$117.86. Revenue per available room fell 27.9% to US$65.26.

“Occupancy levels dropped the most within the Asia Pacific region for the month of May and in the year-to-date numbers of any region”, said James Chappell, managing director of STR Global. “While Europe, the Americas and Middle East Africa regions are experiencing a slowdown in the rate of decline, the same cannot be said in Asia. Some of the lowest levels of occupancy - under 50% - were reported in Bangkok, Beijing, Phuket and Shanghai.”

“It’s not all bad news though,” Chappell added. “Brisbane, Melbourne, Seoul and Sydney reported the highest levels of occupancy - over 70% - for May from the 17 markets tracked by our Asia Pacific Hotel Review.”

Among the key markets, Brisbane, Australia, reported the smallest occupancy decrease, falling 2.1% to 77.3%.

 Bangkok, Thailand, fell in occupancy 37.3% to 41.8%, reporting the largest decrease in that metric. Phuket, Thailand, followed with a 32.1% decrease in occupancy to 34.5%.

Thailand's tourism woes increased dramatically in late 2008 when the yellow-shirted demonstrators closed numerous airports in Thailand, including the main Bangkok International Airport, Suvarnbabhumi, leaving hundreds of thousands of innocent travellers stranded.

 These closures, particularly Suvarnabhumi, created massive global negative press coverage, and when added to other problems such as the more recent political demonstrations, poor exchange rates on some currencies like the GBP, Swine Flu - which as of today reportedly numbers over 1,200 confirmed cases in Thailand with three deaths, the global economic downturn, plus the fact that Thailand is now in its traditional low / rainy season, then it is easy to understand why Thailand leads these negative figures.

Three markets reported ADR increases: Bali, Indonesia (+18.5% to US$127.83); Tokyo, Japan (+12.9% to US$228.55); and Osaka, Japan (+8.7% to US$129.72). Mumbai, India, reported the largest ADR decrease, dropping 35.6% to US$164.66. New Delhi, India, followed with a 31%decrease in ADR to US$162.02.

Bail was the only market to increase in RevPAR for the month, rising 10.8% to US$88.79. Five markets reported RevPAR decreases of more than 40%: Bangkok (-48.4% to US$36.36); Phuket (-47.6% to US$25.80); New Delhi (-44.8% to US$81.48); Beijing, China (-43.8% to US$45.54); and Mumbai (-40.3% to US$92.37).

Performances of key countries in May (all monetary units in local currency):

Country	Occupancy	% change	ADR	% change	RevPAR	% change
Australia	69.2%	-6%	A$ 161.64	-5.4%	A$ 111.87	-11.2%
China	48.3%	-16.2%	CNY 682.34	-19.2%	CNY 329.39	-32.3%
India	50.6%	-15%	INR 6211.66	-24.4%	INR 3143.15	-35.7%
Japan	64.9%	-14.2%	JPY 14277.14	-6.1%	JPY 9266.75	-19.4%
Singapore	63.5%	-17.8%	Sin$ 241.41	-21.8%	Sin$ 153.40	-35.7%
*percentages are increases/decreases for May 2009 vs. May 2008 Source: STR Global

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