Lourey said the survey conducted by the auditing, tax and consulting firm showed that hoteliers in Vietnam would see their businesses decreasing this year, following a sharp drop to the lowest level for four years in 2008.

Average occupancy rates across high-end hotels fell 14.2 percent while their room rates increased 9.6 percent last year from 2007, said the survey that covered 7,900 rooms in 50 three-to five-star hotels in Hanoi, Ho Chi Minh City, Da Nang City, and Da Lat, Phan Thiet and Hoi An towns.

The 2008 average occupancy rate was less than 30 percent while room rates ranged from US$44.5 to $195.83 in Vietnam, according to the survey.

The company’s sixth survey said three-star hotels suffered the highest decrease at 21 percent in average occupancy rates, while four- and five-star hotels experienced similar trends, with declines of 8.6 percent and 13.4 percent respectively year-on-year.

Net profits of all hotels surveyed, excepting five-star hotels, decreased 10.4 percent last year, said the director.

The director said hoteliers are focusing on domestic and international tourists from China to prevent further declines in room and occupancy rates this year.

Vietnam received 1.6 million international arrivals in the first five month of 2009, a drop of 18.8 percent year-on-year, according to the General Statistics Office.

Reported by Minh Quang