Middle East war causes 10 to 20% of booking cancellations in Koh Samui

The war in the Middle East is hitting tourism in Koh Samui with 20% cancellations of advance bookings, while the rise in oil prices is increasing operators' costs.

In the province of Surat Thani, the war in the Middle East is already disrupting the tourism sector in Koh Samui. Advance hotel booking cancellations have reached 20%, according to industry professionals. Meanwhile, the surge in prices of oil and basic commodities is complicating daily life for residents and businesses.

Séni Phuvasehtaworn, director of the Coral Cliff Beach Resort on Koh Samui and vice-president of the Surat Thani Chamber of Commerce, warns of these immediate repercussions:

“Tourists who had booked in advance are cancelling at a rate of 10 to 20%. The war is driving up fuel prices and the cost of living, inflating our operating costs,” he explains.

Hotels cannot pass on these increases to the rates of already booked rooms, nor to breakfasts or associated services. Operators fear a fuel shortage and recurrent power cuts on the island.

Séni Phuvasehtaworn fears a prolongation of the conflict, comparable to the Iraq war, which would paralyse bookings and threaten security as well as European and Asian economies dependent on tourism.

“In this situation, at the very least, let’s avoid a fuel shortage like we’re seeing today with the queues at the pumps. On Koh Samui, power cuts are frequent: hotels have to use diesel generators, which are increasingly difficult to supply in large quantities. I call on the new government to monitor oil and control the prices of goods, without penalising tourism or the population.”