Thailand's tourism industry, once considered very robust, is now struggling because of coronavirus. Potjanee Darakamas of Oxford Acuity, which manages and operates hotels, cited private airport transfers, in-room spa services and packages around specific themes such as health retreats and activities tailor-made for individual guests. In April, Thailand banned almost all … THAILAND’S health minister has warned the nation cannot stop the spread of coronavirus, as it becomes the worst-affected nation outside of China. The Thai Tourism and Sports Ministry expects that the number of Chinese tourists in Thailand will decline to 9 million in 2020. However, the country is preparing to receive a number of illegal Thai migrants who worked in South Korea without official permits and have now declared themselves to the South Korean government so they can come home. In Thailand, the outbreak has not only affected Thai travellers but also one of the country’s key sectors – tourism. This service is not intended for persons residing in the EU. Their reduced arrivals were a result of the COVID-19 outbreak, according to Thailand’s Fiscal Policy Office, which reported a 1.1 percent fall in revenue from foreign tourists in January. It will highlight scenic beaches and parks, part of a “tourism bridge” that could emerge in Asia including Hong Kong and Japan. Rei Matsuda, CEO of hotel chain Kokotel told CNA his business has been hit hard since the last week of January. Thailand itself now has at least 40 confirmed cases of coronavirus. Chinese visitors account for the biggest group of tourists in Thailand. Hoteliers there should have much tougher time. I hope it will continue to go that way (for Thailand).”. See here for a complete list of exchanges and delays. Thailand welcomed 39.8 million foreign tourists last year but projects as few as 14 million for 2020. In the meantime, the government is drawing up a stimulus package to promote domestic tourism from July to October. Thailand's most popular tourism island emerged as a coronavirus hotspot in March, facing the highest infection rate per capita out of all of Thailand's 77 provinces. The ongoing coronavirus outbreak is hitting the tourism industry in China, Japan and Thailand “hard,” industry experts have claimed. Thailand has banned international flights until at least June 30, and foreign tourists aren’t expected until later in the year. In February 2020, our currently-operated portfolio hotels – 10 properties – overall had 28 per cent less revenue from the budgeted figure. Coronavirus travel health. Local transmission has waned, with the last recorded case on May 25. According to the Tourism Ministry, in January, 3.81 million foreign tourists travelled to Thailand. “The business is bad. BANGKOK: Piyatida Wongjittapinyo has dreamt of seeing Japanese cherry blossoms in full bloom and so last year, she planned her trip to Tokyo and booked her flight nearly a year in advance. See the TravelHealthPro website for further advice on travel abroad … Airlines, along with the rest of the travel industry, are facing an uncertain future caused by the coronavirus pandemic. According to Matsuda, his hotel business usually enjoys 80-90 per cent occupancy during the high season, which lasts from November to March. BANGKOK (Reuters) - Thailand is positioning itself as a trusted destination for international tourists after travel restrictions ease, capitalising on its relative success in containing the coronavirus outbreak, industry officials say. However, some of the hotels currently report 65-70 per cent occupancy. South Korea reported more than 4,000 COVID-19 cases – the second highest number of infections in the world after China. Explore: Real-time interactive map of all the confirmed cases reported around the world, infected with the coronavirus in Hokkaido, READ: Thailand tourist arrivals may drop 6 million this year due to COVID-19, READ: Man diagnosed with dengue, COVID-19 dies in Thailand, READ: Thais advised to postpone unnecessary trips to nine COVID-19 affected destinations, BOOKMARK THIS: Our comprehensive coverage of novel coronavirus and its developments. “I’m afraid I’d be a super spreader and shunned by society. The Erawan Shrine on Ratchadamri Road, which is usually crowded with tourists, was nearly deserted on Tuesday (Mar 3). The 28-year-old was looking forward to embarking on that journey next month and making her dream come true. Check the latest information on risk from COVID-19 for Thailand on the TravelHealthPro website. The tourism industry, which accounts for 12% of the economy, collapsed after the outbreak escalated. For entrepreneurs like Matsuda, their business future is uncertain. The Ministry of Public Health said on Tuesday (Mar 3) that 31 of the patients were discharged, 11 others are receiving medical treatment at hospitals, and one has died. “After COVID eases, we plan to refresh the country’s image to a trusted destination where tourists will have peace of mind,” Tanes Petsuwan, the Tourism Authority of Thailand’s (TAT) deputy governor for marketing and communications, told Reuters. Piyatida has lost more than US$500 from non-refundable bookings. Asia Coronavirus: How long can Thailand survive without foreign tourism? But now her plans have come to a screeching halt. This is a very painful figure,” he said. Our Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles. But when international travel resumes, Thailand will promote the “trust” concept, as hotels emphasise measures they are taking for safety and offer special packages. Mediacorp Pte Ltd. All rights reserved. But it’s unclear if travellers will be at ease before a coronavirus vaccine is available, which experts say is at least a year away. Though Thailand’s hospitals have not been overwhelmed by coronavirus patients, the country’s tourism-dependent economy has been battered. Thailand’s finance ministry warned last Wednesday that the virus and related bans could have a three-month impact, meaning 400,000 fewer visitors. The COVID-19 pandemic in Thailand is part of the worldwide pandemic of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2).The first known case of the virus arrived on 8 January 2020 and was confirmed to have reached Thailand … Like many countries around the world, Japan is battling the outbreak of the potentially deadly COVID-19. Download our app or subscribe to our Telegram channel for the latest updates on the coronavirus outbreak: https://cna.asia/telegram. Tokyo is on that list. So far, Thailand has reported 43 cases of COVID-19. “Right now, Thailand still has a reputation of [having] a fewer number of the COVID-19 patients, compared to those severe countries like China, Korea, Japan or Italy. All quotes delayed a minimum of 15 minutes. So, I decided against the trip,” she told CNA. The Thai government has also advised the public to avoid unnecessary trips to several destinations affected by COVID-19. In Thailand, the outbreak has not only affected Thai travellers but also one of the country’s key sectors – tourism. Weitere Corona-Sicherheitsauflagen für Thailand-Urlauber. The impact of COVID-19 is also felt among hoteliers in the Thai capital. In one recent example, about 20,000 tourists canceled … Thailand’s borders are still closed for all foreign nationals with few … It looks like the email address you entered is not valid. Central Plaza Hotel Pcl, which manages 46 hotels and resorts across Thailand, will seal rooms once they are cleaned and disinfected so guests will be confident, deputy CEO Markland Blaiklock told Reuters. Thailand needs to be more competitive. For now, hotels will have to go the extra mile to tempt travellers. Copyright© Mediacorp 2021. The number of tourist arrivals in Thailand fell 44.3% in February from a year earlier, due to the coronavirus epidemic, the Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) said on Monday. Before the outbreak, she added, visitors would be in the hundreds and most of them were from Hong Kong. The lockdown measures to contain the COVID-19 spread have taken a heavy toll on the Southeast Asian country's economy. The government has rolled out a health certification system for hotels and restaurants so that travellers can be reassured. Thailand is considering special tourism resorts that double as quarantine zones. “The tourism sector continued to grow but the situation of the COVID-19 outbreak should be monitored as it has started to impact the Thai economy since the end of January,” said Wuttipong Jittungsakul, Deputy Director-General of the Fiscal Policy Office which comes under the Finance Ministry. “We may limit occupancy at 50% on some properties so guests experience social distancing that they are comfortable with,” he said. Also at home, I’ve got my parents, who are more than 60 years old, and a young child. She said she decided to cancel her trip after hearing about a Thai couple who was infected with the coronavirus in Hokkaido. It dropped by 10-20 per cent from the normal rate we charge,” he told CNA. You may also consult the Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) Press Releases and Civil Aviation Authority of Thailand. The Thai Tourism Ministry estimated that reduced tourists from China could result in 50 billion baht ($1.61 billion) of lost revenue, reported Reuters. “Hygiene is a must, so offering bespoke services will give boutique hotels with unique selling points an advantage over corporate operators.”, Additional reporting by Orathai Siring; Editting by Kay Johnson and Jacqueline Wong. By clicking subscribe, I agree to receive news updates and promotional material from Mediacorp and Mediacorp's partners. Neben dem Nachweis über einen negativen Corona-Test und der Verpflichtung, sich nach Ankunft in Thailand für 15 Tage (14 Nächte) in ein Quarantäne-Hotel zu begeben, gelten für Thailand … The tourism industry, which accounts for 12% of the economy, collapsed after the outbreak escalated. I have almost zero customers these days,” said Pen Thepaksorn, 63, a flower seller near the Hindu shrine. Tourism income typically represents about 20% of the Thai economy. In 2019, Thailand received more than US$60 billion in tourism revenue from about 40 million visitors. Thai tour operators are weathering the storm after China imposed travel restrictions on group tours until late next month in a move to control the spread of the novel coronavirus, which the … For Matsuda and many others reeling from the COVID-19 blow to Thai tourism, the epidemic is resulting in a slow and painful wait in what would have been peak travel season in one of Asia’s top travel destinations. The campaign, to be launched later in the year, will be aimed at young affluent travellers from places that are considered low-risk such as China, South Korea and Taiwan, Tanes said. The country became the first to confirm an o… Piyatida is one of several Thais forced to abandon their overseas trips for fear of the virus which has infected more than 90,000 people worldwide and killed more than 3000. “The most severely impacted one had 44 per cent less revenue from the budget of February 2020,” he added. Thailand Coronavirus update with statistics and graphs: total and new cases, deaths per day, mortality and recovery rates, current active cases, recoveries, trends and timeline.