Impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on tourism in Thailand

The COVID-19 has been made severe impacts on the global economy including many sectors of the global economy. The tourism industry contributed about 20% of Thailand’s GDP before the outbreak of the COVID-19. The COVID-19 pandemic hit Thailand tourism significantly.
Since the first confirmed case of COVID-19 reported in Wuhan, China, countries and nations have imposed travel restrictions to prevent the spread of COVID-19. Strict travel restrictions caused foreign tourists and their spending in Thailand to decrease dramatically. According to the estimation from the Tourism Authority of Thailand, the number of foreign tourists dropped about 65% in 2020. The unemployment rate peaked at 1.96% in the first quarter of 2020 since the first quarter of 2009. Tourism workers have been faced unemployment or reduced working hours due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Informal workers including food sellers and activity providers on the street have been influenced deeply, and new graduates would have fewer job opportunities because of the pandemic.
To prevent the spread of the COVID-19 and cope with the decline in the tourism industry, the Thailand government took measures including different degrees of lockdown, public venues shut down, the We Travel Together Promotion, and the Moral Support Promotion. The impacts of COVID-19 on Thailand tourism is ongoing and the Thailand government still face serious challenges.
Impact
Tourism is considered one of the most important sectors of Thailand' s economy because it contributed for 20% of GDP before the COVID-19 pandemic. The loss of Chinese tourists hit the Thailand tourism at the beginning of 2020.
According to the estimation from the Tourism Authority of Thailand, the total number of tourists in 2020 decreased by 65%.
Wat Pho is one of the most-visited temples in Thailand. It receives 6,000 - 10,000 visitors per day before the COVID-19 pandemic. Wat Pho is difficult to meet the monthly budget of $96,000 without foreign tourists. Other temples in Thailand also experienced huge losses due to the spread of the COVID-19.
The country faces COVID-19 rebounds and extend tourism crisis this year. Although the spread of COVID-19 was controlled well in 2020, the impact of the COVID-19 is continuing. The National Economic and Social Development Council forecasted the Thailand tourism is not expected to recover to normal until 2026, citing the Tourism Authority of Thailand..
To stimulus Thailand tourism industry, the Cabinet approved two stimulus packages of THB 22.4 billion to cope with the decline of domestic tourism. Through the implementation of the We Travel Together Promotion, the government subsidizes 40% airfares for up to 1,000 baht every seat and 40% hotel room for up to 3,000 baht every night. Through the implementation of the Moral Support Promotion funds holidays for over one million health workers and volunteers.

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