Thai tour bus operators warn of thousands of job losses
More than 10,000 tour bus drivers and other staffers could lose their jobs due to the plunge in business caused by the COVID-19 outbreak.
Thai Transportation Operators Association president Wasuchet Sophonsathien said business is well down with the core China market dried up.
Many tour companies are heavily reliant on China tour groups.
Wasuchet said companies will be forced to lay off workers if there is no improvement within the next month.
Wasuchet called on the government to provide financial aid to tour operators to tide them over in the short term.
"Tour bus companies have lost huge amounts of income and have had to park nearly 7,000 tour buses," he said.
Thailand’s Tourism Minister Pipat Ratchakitprakan said the government is working out a financial aid package for struggling tourism operators.
However Pipat reckons the crisis will subside later in the year.
"Although the coronavirus has caused damage to the tourism industry, I am confident the situation will return to normal in the second half or after the Songkran Festival."
TravelMole Editorial Team
Editor for TravelMole North America and Asia pacific regions. Ray is a highly experienced (15+ years) skilled journalist and editor predominantly in travel, hospitality and lifestyle working with a huge number of major market-leading brands. He has also cover in-depth news, interviews and features in general business, finance, tech and geopolitical issues for a select few major news outlets and publishers.
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