Despite the recent SARS crisis in the area, Asia is continuing to attract foreign investment in hotel and tourism projects, with China set to receive the bulk of it over the next few years.

A poll by Jones Lang LaSalle Hotels at the 6th Asia Pacific Hotel Investment Conference in Singapore recently saw 61.3 per cent of delegates expecting to expand into China – ahead of other developed Asian markets – in the next twelve months.

Investment activity in India is also expected to continue, with 11.3 per cent anticipating expanding in the sub-continent.

For ensuring that another SARS-like crisis does not happen again, 62.9 per cent of delegates said that "communication" was the critical issue for the hotel sector, with "stronger leadership" – on 19.4 per cent – being second. To stimulate quick business recovery in the Asia Pacific region, 36.1 per cent considered that "safety and security" was the most important factor.

Elsewhere, Jones Lang LaSalle Hotels senior vice president, David Ling, said: "A strong recovery in Bangkok’s hotel market by the fourth quarter of 2003 should be ensured by a swift rebound in corporate and leisure travel, rescheduled conferences and reduced rates."

Hotel occupancies of the city’s four- and five-star hotels were over 70 per cent in January and February this year, but slipped to 66 per cent in March as SARS started affecting travel intentions.

The figure fell to all-time lows of 42 and 37 per cent in April and May respectively but rose – as the outbreak was brought under control and driven by a pick up in corporate demand – to a record 49 per cent in June and showed further signs of improvement in July.

Jones Lang LaSalle Hotels is a leading hotel investment services group. Details: www.joneslanglasallehotels.com