The Tourism Authority of Thailand Governor Mr. Yuthasak Supasorn says there will be no return to mass-market tourism. He believes that Thailand must remain a prized destination, and thus must be safe for its citizens and visitors even when the coronavirus pandemic is over.
In October this year, Thailand, which used to be a hot destination for international tourists, was visited by just 1200 people. One year ago it was 3 million. From April to September, nobody from abroad came to visit Thailand. The average hotel occupancy rate dropped to just 2%. Apart from the continuing pandemic, the tremendous budget deficit (tourism accounts for 12% of the nation’s GDP) was, in part, caused by stringent entry restrictions.
It is estimated that Thailand will take no less than four years to return to the previous level of international tourism and revenue. In an effort to compensate for the situation, the Thai plan to focus on quality instead of quantity, and steer the industry towards a more financially sound audience.
