The Thai Hotel Association aims to increase room rates between 5 to 10 percent next year since learning about the rising trend of FITs (free independent travelers) who spend most of their budget on accommodations.

Suwan Thanormkiattibhumi, Director of the Thai Hotel Association, said that the number of self-booked travelers has increased, therefore, the hotel industry sees the potential to make more money from this group as opposed to what they make through bookings with travel agencies.

“The number of FITs tends to increase because of technology. The travelers, especially young people, are more interested in traveling on their own because they can design their own trip from flights to hotels.”

She added that most travelers in Thailand spend 26 percent of their budget on accommodations, while the second largest amount, 21.7 percent, is allocated for shopping, Daily News reported.

Source: http://bangkok.coconuts.co/