Asian hotel prices at their lowest in 2021

According to HVS consultant, which published its second-quarter forecasts for thehotels in Asia Pacificthe the situation of hotels in the region remains fragile. More than anywhere else in the world, the continent has seen fit to close its borders hermetically. This has killed off tourism, on which many countries depend.

The countries hardest hit were Thailand, the Philippines, Vietnam, Cambodia and Malaysia. In these countries, tourism represented between 10% and 20% of GDP. It has also affected, to a lesser extent, countries with greater economic diversity. This is the case in Hong Kong, Singapore or even Taiwan.

China, South Korea, India and Australia have suffered the least from the absence of international tourists, thanks to a strong domestic market. And yet, the emergence of epidemic peaks still affected travel to Australia and India. This has contributed to darkening the outlook for the hotel industry. HVS cites extended confinement, travel restrictions and social distancing measures.

According to HVS, 2021 will therefore see poor hotel performance due to the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic.

Nevertheless, the five markets least affected by the downturn in tourism are Beijing, the Maldives, Shanghai, Sydney and Taipeiwhile markets most affected are Bali, Bangalore, Bangkok, Colombo and Phuket.

The situation is particularly bleak in Myanmar following the military coup. The massacre of the local population by the junta and the closure of the country to the outside world will have a negative impact on tourism for several years, if not a decade.

China and Australia come out on top

If there is a prospect ofimprovement in the health situation in the Asia-Pacific region, it will only be noticeable inat the end of the year. 2021 will therefore be the second year in this part of the world where tourism will have completely disappeared - with a few rare exceptions.

As a result, the hotel industry is suffering from a sharp drop in business, which is reflected in a setback occupancy rates. And, as a result, downward trend in room rates. A handful of cities have managed to maintain their hotel occupancy rates at around 50%. Shanghai and Beijing have been the most resilient since the start of 2021. The average occupancy rate, according to HVS, was 65% and 60% respectively.

Singapore, Sydney and Manila posted load factors of 55%, 52% and 50% respectively. The occupancy rate in Hong Kong, Jakarta and Melbourne is estimated by HVS at 49%. But that was before the fourth wave of covid, which has been affecting Asia and the Pacific since April.

The good news is that hotel prices are falling almost everywhere in Asia. The bad news is that very few travellers with the capacity to visit these countries are benefiting. Across the whole region, only Australia and China have seen hotel rates increase slightly between 2020 and 2021. Again, on the back of buoyant domestic demand.

On the other hand, the sharpest falls in fares are seen in Delhi, Manila, Mumbai and Hong Kong. The average price in these four cities has fallen by more than 40% in two years. The main economic metropolises of Southeast Asia -Bangkok, Kuala Lumpur, Saigon and Singapore- recorded falls of between 30% and 35%. Only Hanoi and Jakarta have managed to limit the fall in their hotel rates.

However, demand is likely to remain weak in early 2022, and bargains are likely to continue for those returning to the major Asian metropolises. And that's despite promises to reopen or ease sanitary constraints. Cambodia, Hong Kong, Singapore or Vietnam have announced a reduction in health measures for vaccinated travellers by the end of the year...

Average price of a room (conversion rate into euros on 04/08/2021 - Source: HVS)