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| A passenger terminal at Suvarnabhumi airport is temporarily closed as the number of international travellers plunges. Photo by Wichan Charoenkiatpakul |
The impact of the pandemic hammered the tourism industry in the first three months of 2020, with all source markets facing the same setbacks to a different degree.
Chinese tourists generated 57.6 billion baht in Thailand, remaining the largest contributor despite suffering a 63.7% decrease year-on-year, the greatest contraction among the top five markets.
Russia, Britain, Malaysia and Japan ranked second to fifth, respectively, in terms of revenue contribution from tourists. All four segments saw decreases of less than 50% because travel had not yet stalled in January.
International visitors during the quarter numbered 6.7 million, down 38% year-on-year, with a dip of at least 4.09 million travellers since travel restrictions were imposed in March.
The figure for last month also showed a glimpse of further decline looming in the second quarter as more airlines and hotels close, bringing tourist numbers down by 76.1% to 830,892 in March.
Tourism and Sports Minister Phiphat Ratchakitprakarn said the industry has not bottomed out yet and figures will deteriorate further in the second quarter, as all tourism-related activities have been put on hold and will not likely resume until the pandemic is completely under control.
Mr Phiphat said he will take a proposal to the cabinet for the Social Security Fund (SSF) to be allowed to help tourism workers by supporting 62% of their salary when employers shut down business without an official order from the state.
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| Photo: Bangkok Post |
Surapong Techaruvichit, an adviser to the Thai Hotels Association (THA), said that while hotels in 13 provinces have been authorised to temporarily stop their services and will receive compensation from the SSF, a number of major destinations such as Bangkok, Chiang Mai, Chiang Rai and Rayong still have not received a similar order.
“The THA submitted a letter to Bangkok’s governor requesting the authority issue an order to close down hotels, which the Bangkok Metropolitan Administration is scheduled to discuss in its agenda today,” Mr Surapong said. “We’re losing hope that the Centre for Covid-19 Situation Administration will order hotels nationwide to shut down, as some ministries oppose this.”
Read the full article at Bangkok Post: https://www.bangkokpost.com/business/1896025/revenue-down-40-in-q1-as-arrivals-dry-up-amid-outbreak
Mekong Tourism Coordinating Office
c/o 3rd Floor, Department of Tourism, Ministry of Tourism and Sports, 154 Rama 1 Road
National Stadium, Wangmai, Pathumwan, Bangkok 10330, Thailand
Web: www.mekongtourism.org
Tel: +66 2038 5071-1
Mobile: +66 8555 44234, +66 8098 95853
“The THA submitted a letter to Bangkok’s governor requesting the authority issue an order to close down hotels, which the Bangkok Metropolitan Administration is scheduled to discuss in its agenda today,” Mr Surapong said. “We’re losing hope that the Centre for Covid-19 Situation Administration will order hotels nationwide to shut down, as some ministries oppose this.”
Read the full article at Bangkok Post: https://www.bangkokpost.com/business/1896025/revenue-down-40-in-q1-as-arrivals-dry-up-amid-outbreak
Mekong Tourism Coordinating Office
c/o 3rd Floor, Department of Tourism, Ministry of Tourism and Sports, 154 Rama 1 Road
National Stadium, Wangmai, Pathumwan, Bangkok 10330, Thailand
Web: www.mekongtourism.org
Tel: +66 2038 5071-1
Mobile: +66 8555 44234, +66 8098 95853
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