Thai hotels want payment in dollars<\/p>\n
BANGKOK (AFP): The Thai Hotels Association (THA) has appealed
\nto the government following threats by tour operators to
\nblacklist hotels which quote dollar rates for rooms, a report
\nsaid yesterday.<\/p>\n
In a letter to the prime minister's office, THA president
\nPraphandsak Bhaetyanond said the move would benefit the country
\nby bringing in dollars and raising hotel standards, a report in
\nthe Bangkok Post said.<\/p>\n
"As the baht continues to fluctuate in value, making tourists
\nhesitate to make reservations, quoting the U.S. dollar rates
\nwithout increasing the price will convince them," the THA letter
\nsaid.<\/p>\n
Tour operators threatened to blacklist the hotels saying
\ncharging in dollars would push room rates up and damage tourism
\nin Thailand.<\/p>\n
The letter, addressed to prime minister's office minister
\nJurin Laksanavisit who oversees tourism, comes after 11 five-star
\nhotels in the capital, most of them part of major international
\nchains, said they would start quoting in dollars.<\/p>\n
The Thai government has been looking to boost tourism in an
\neffort to help the country out of its worst economic downturn in
\ndecades. It is hoped the weaker baht will help draw foreigners.<\/p>\n
The Thai currency has lost more than 50 percent of its value
\nsince being unhitched from the greenback in July last year.<\/p>\n
Praphandsak said there was nothing new about quoting in
\ndollars as most hotels already did so through their overseas
\nsales departments.<\/p>\n
He also said bringing in more revenue would help the hotels
\nmaintain their standards despite rising costs from the baht's
\ndevaluation.<\/p>\n
He said that five-star hotels needed dollars as 35 percent or
\nmore of their costs were for imported items such as food,
\nbeverages and overseas advertising.<\/p>",
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