Thailand has recently emerged as the ASEAN nation attracting the highest number of international tourists in 2023, with a remarkable 28.09 million arrivals recorded, marking a significant 153.94% increase from the previous year.

This surge in tourism is particularly encouraging for Thailand's economy, as the tourism sector contributes approximately 18% to the country's gross domestic product (GDP), following a challenging period during the pandemic.

The bonuses being awarded to staff members by hotel operators in Thailand for the end of 2023 serve as a testament to the thriving tourism industry in the country.

For instance, JW Marriott Phuket recently announced an impressive bonus for each of its staff members, amounting to THB95,733.22 or approximately RM12,808.50, sourced from the hotel's earnings in service charges from patrons.

For clarity, in addition to government taxes, many hotels and restaurants in Thailand include a 10% service charge, which is distributed among employees and constitutes a significant portion of their compensation package.

JW Marriott Phuket's THB95,733.22 bonus per staff member sets a new record in Thailand, surpassing the hotel's own previous record of THB79,980 (RM10,699). This information was shared by the Hotel Service Charge Update Facebook page, which documents service charge earnings of hotels across Thailand.

Among the top earners in terms of service charges, Anantara Layan Phuket follows closely behind, providing each employee with THB71,715 (RM9,594).

Other notable contributors to the top five include Four Seasons Koh Samui (THB69,787 or RM9,336 per employee), Four Seasons Tented Camp Golden Triangle Chiang Rai (THB65,931 or RM8,820 per employee), and Amanpuri Phuket, which not only awarded THB63,973 or RM8,558 in service charge earnings to each staff member but also granted a 1.5-month bonus.

The data on service charge earnings shared by Thai hotels indicates that hotel operators in Phuket have been particularly successful. Apart from JW Marriott Phuket, Anantara Layan Phuket, and Amanpuri Phuket, seven other hotel operators on the island have distributed bonuses exceeding THB40,000 or approximately RM5,351 to their employees.