Thai Tourist Arrivals Shrink 66% for the First Six Months as Borders Close amid Pandemic

Thai tourism recorded a sharp contraction in foreign tourist arrivals of 66% from a year earlier for the first six months of 2020 to 6.69 millions as no visitors entering the country for 3-month straight during April to June as borders remained closed amid the Covid-19 pandemic, said the Tourism Authority of Thailand on Thai Tourism Situation Trend. 

 

Tourism revenue between January – June also posted a dramatic decreased of 65% year-on-year to 3.32 hundred billion baht.

 

For the third quarter, it is expected that the number of foreign visitors will be reduced to 0.7 – 2.7 million or 70 – 90%, while the recovery opportunities would be seen in short-haul markets, tourism ministry stated in the report.

 

Thai Tourism Authority pointed out that even the situation began relaxing but Thais are struggling with economy as not have sufficient budget for travel. 

 

“The situation of the domestic tourism market in the first half of 2020 was in a serious decline as a result of the Covid-19 outbreak. Thailand applied the measures to reduce the spread of the pandemic in places. Although the situation has begun to ease, an economic slowdown, cost of living, and highly increasing unemployment make the Thai people not have enough budget for travel and tourism.” said tourism ministry.

 

In case of domestic tourism, there were 34.38 million Thai visitors/trips, a drop of 55% YoY, with tourism revenue of 2.41 hundred billion baht, a fall of 54% YoY. 

 

Although Thailand has been no local virus transmission recorded for more than two months., government still decided to extend a state of emergency for another month until the end of August to “control” the virus spreading.