The war in the Middle East is affecting the tourism industry, with Phangnga province reporting a sharp decline in European arrivals and estimated losses of nearly 1.7 billion baht, the Phangnga Hotel Association said.
Fighting has disrupted air travel across Middle Eastern airspace, affecting routes commonly used by long-haul flights from Europe to southern Thailand.
Airlines have been forced to reroute flights to avoid the conflict zone, raising costs and pushing ticket prices up by more than 20%.
Hotel operators in Phangnga said they are struggling to retain European guests, with postponements and cancellations exceeding 20% compared with the same period last year.
The economic loss to the province is put at nearly 1.7 billion baht.
The association said the province is among the hardest-hit destinations on the Andaman coast because its tourism market relies heavily on European visitors, unlike other provinces that attract a mix, including tourists from Asia.
Phangnga is particularly vulnerable because most long-haul flights from Europe traditionally pass through the Middle East to minimise fuel costs.
The association urged the Tourism Authority of Thailand to intensify social media campaigns to attract new visitor segments and domestic travellers, with Khao Lak identified as a priority destination.
