Hostel Business Management Practice in Chiang Mai for the New Normal of Tourism during the Covid-19 Pandemic

Abstract

          The purpose of this research was to study the practice and its results of using the hostel business management practice in Chiang Mai Province according to the new normal of tourism during the covid-19 pandemic. Data was collected from 30 hostels located in Mueang District, Chiang Mai Province, through in-depth interviews with entrepreneurs. The data were examined through consistency checks, and the content was analyzed using a qualitative research synthesis technique and descriptive statistics such as frequency and percentage.
          The results revealed that there were 3 aspects involving 12 practices in hostel management. The first aspect was increasing revenue, which involving lowering room rates price, and marketing practices through online advertising and public communication on business channels directly. The second aspect was cost cutting, which included reducing and controlling practice of business expenses, reducing practice of the number of employees, hiring temporary staff practice, reducing working hours practice. The last aspect was applying hygiene and sanitation standards, which entailed reducing the number of guests practice in dormitory room types, screening customers practice using public health measures, strict in hygiene and sanitation, paying attention to distancing and ventilation practice, as well as participating in the Amazing Thailand Safety and Health Administration campaign practice. Consequently, applying such practices was unable to boost profits to a satisfactory level due to decreased income from room rentals. Although there was additional income from other business channels, most entrepreneurs needed to keep costs under control and manage income to meet expenses. The entrepreneurs can realize hostel business management and can use it as a guideline for the new normal of tourism.