Zero tourists came to Thailand in April
Thailand received a grand total of zero inbound tourists in April.
It welcomed no foreign tourists for the first time ever due to the halting of all scheduled inbound flights and lockdowns around the world.
It contrasts sharply with the more than three million arrivals last year generating THB146 billion in tourism-related spending.
Thai authorities said spending was zero although there are still a few tourists and a large expat community particularly in Bangkok and Phuket.
Although limited domestic flight services have resumed, the Thai airline industry has been hit hard.
Flag carrier Thai Airways has filed for bankuptcy protection and low cost airline Thai AirAsia said it has been seeking a possible merger to survive the global travel downturn.
The Tourism Authority of Thailand doesn’t expect a tourism rebound until later this year.
"It is still dependent on the outbreak situation, but I think at the earliest, we may see the return of tourists in the fourth quarter of this year," TAT governor Yuthasak Supasorn told CNN.
Yuthasak says when tourism resumes, it will likely begin with certain destinations, such as islands, where any possible ‘second wave’ can be better contained.
"We have studied a possibility of offering special long-stay packages in isolated and closed areas where health monitoring can be easily controlled — for example, Koh Pha Ngan and Koh Samui," Yuthasak said.
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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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