[chucky66]

Hi geespot.

No Im now back in Singapore (on work business) but I spent 4 days in Phuket last week and was on samui before that. Despite low occupancy in many hotels on Phuket I failed to experience any drop in rates during my stay.

If you look at the gulf side of things (samui, phangan etc). They are benefitting tremendously because of the tsunami. According to my own observations and TAT numbers occupancy over there are up to very high levels. In response there have been large increases in hoteliers charges for accomodation. This is exploitation of the worst kind but also is business. The two are linked and I dont argue this. Hoteliers in Thailand have always charged far more during busy periods than quiet periods.

My point was that at the moment in my opinion the likes of Bali are not pushing up prices to account for any increase in tourist numbers they are receiving as a result of the tsunami. Nor did they keep prices at normal levels following the bombing in 2002 when tourism dropped to an all time low.