The president of the Upper Northeastern Hotel Association is confident that accommodations in Udon Thani city are fully prepared to welcome tourists for the "Udon Thani Horticultural Expo 2026." He revealed that bookings have surpassed 50% and emphasized contingency plans to redirect visitors to neighboring provinces if accommodation runs short.
A reporter from Udon Thani Province reports that the countdown is nine days to the 2026 World Horticultural Expo, held at the Nong Daed wetland area, Kud Sa Subdistrict, Mueang Udon Thani District. Visitors can attend from 1 November to 14 March 2027, a total of 134 days. The official opening ceremony will be on 2 November, presided over by Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul. All sectors in Udon Thani have prepared transportation by plane, train, bus, and accommodations. The 70 hotels with 9,000 rooms have already booked over 50%, with bookings continuing to increase.
Mr. Suthat Praesurin, General Manager of Charoen Hotel and president of the Upper Northeastern Thai Hotel Association, revealed that Udon Thani accommodations prepared for the expo total 9,000 rooms. About 5,000 are in the Mueang Udon Thani district, with the rest scattered in surrounding districts. In the city, there are approximately 3,500 three-star and above hotels, with the remainder being smaller hotels. Initially, they expect that if tourist numbers reach their forecast, the city will be fully booked.
“If tourist numbers are lower than projected, Udon Thani is still ready with sufficient rooms to serve customers and visitors. From our checks with member hotels coordinated through the association, 3,500 three-star and above rooms exist, with about 50% already booked. This shows we can still accommodate many tourists arriving in November. Emphasizing, rooms are not yet fully booked, and we can still care for more visitors.”
Mr. Suthat further revealed that room rates have been discussed since early this year, advising caution regarding any increases. From inquiries and talks, prices are expected to rise by about 10-20%, which is normal for the tourism season.
“Therefore, rates will be adjusted starting 1 November, generally increasing by 5 to 10 percent, but not exceeding 20 percent. We stress that price increases should be justified by adding value and enhancing customer experience, not merely raising prices without added benefits. Hence, price adjustments must be reasonable and justified.”
The president of the Upper Northeastern Thai Hotel Association added that during the 134-day expo, accommodations in Udon Thani city are sufficient to serve tourists, and he is confident in their management. Nevertheless, to be cautious, they have backup plans. Udon Thani is the center of Upper Northeast Thailand, with nearby provinces such as Khon Kaen, Nong Khai, Nong Bua Lamphu, Sakon Nakhon, Nakhon Phanom, and Bueng Kan, all having hotels within 1 to 2.5 hours travel. If Udon Thani hotels are fully booked, Khon Kaen with over 5,000 rooms and Nong Khai with over 7,000 rooms can accommodate overflow visitors. These neighboring provinces have comfortable, standard hotels ready to welcome tourists beyond Udon Thani's capacity.
“The foundational intent of this horticultural event in Udon Thani is to elevate tourism in the Northeast and create links among provinces. Visitors should not just come to the expo in Udon Thani and leave but travel connecting provinces, such as Korat, Khon Kaen, and Udon Thani, or arrive in Udon Thani then proceed to Khon Kaen or Nong Khai and Bueng Kan. Various travel routes have been designed, such as following the Phaya Naga legend, tracing revered monks, spiritual paths, or romantic routes, offering diverse tourism experiences.”
Mr. Suthat also revealed that shuttle services for tourists will be available due to limited parking at the expo site. While some hotels may offer parking, the province has coordinated transport services attentively. For example, Charoen Hotel’s 41-rai area has reserved space for guest parking. They have partnered with private networks to run shuttle buses free of charge. Tourists buying tickets through contracted tour companies can access these services. The provincial buses will run routes passing behind hotels to UD Town shopping center, providing regular shuttle services.
Besides hotels of all levels, numerous homestays are available, including award-winning, quality-certified community homestays such as Ban Chiang, Red Lotus Sea communities, and Ban Phue community. There are also many affordable accommodations linked to surrounding communities. Coordination occurs via several Line groups among accommodation operators, including 3-4 groups covering all hotel levels, sharing information on availability. For large conferences of 5,000-8,000 people requiring many rooms, these groups coordinate availability daily. Hotels share data on vacancies and prices, enabling efficient management of peak periods and ensuring sufficient rooms across hotels, guesthouses, and homestays.
“Today, I can say we still can accommodate tourists. About 50% of rooms are booked, but the trend is increasing as bookings keep coming in. We update weekly, and bookings continue flowing. In November, rooms remain available; January to March bookings are still open and rising. Tour companies and agencies have started calling to book accommodations,” Mr. Suthat said.