Over a million in tourism industry could lose jobs if Covid-19 crisis continues

[Jonathan Fairfield]

Over a million in tourism industry could lose jobs if Covid-19 crisis continues

 

 

More than a million people in the tourism industry could lose their jobs with estimated loss of Bt1 trillion if the Covid-19 pandemic continues, Tourism Council of Thailand (TCT) president Chairat Trirattanajarasporn said.

 

“We estimate that around 25-30 per cent of tourism employees or 1-1.2 million people will be laid off, while up to 3 million will have their salaries cut or be offered unpaid leave until the situation improves,” he added.

 

Chairat further added that one of the major obstacles for tourism operators is that they cannot access financial support provided by the government. “The Cabinet recently approved low-interest loans or soft loans totalling Bt150 billion with each operator allowed a maximum amount of Bt20 million. However, all banks that we have contacted say they have not received the budget yet.”

 

“We would like the government to follow up on this measure and approve the budget as soon as possible, since tourism operators are in a dire situation and in urgent need of loans,” he added.

 

Meanwhile, the president of the Association of Thai Travel Agents (ATTA), Wichit Prakobkosul, said that tourism entrepreneurs have appealed to creditor banks to extend the repayment period for 6-12 months and reduce the interest by 50 per cent. “Entrepreneurs need these measures to stay afloat amid the Covid-19 situation,” he said. “However, it has been more than two months since we submitted appeals but the banks are still silent.”

 

Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) Governor Yuthasak Supasorn said that TAT will discuss with Government Savings Bank and Thai Credit Guarantee Corporation to lessen the criteria for soft loans of Bt15 billion to make sure that tourism operators, who are mostly small and medium-sized enterprises, can get them.

 

“We are aware of the problems in the tourism industry and will use every possible measure to prevent entrepreneurs from laying off people, as spike in unemployment could lead to increased non-performing loans,” he said.

 

Source: https://www.nationthailand.com/news/30384562

 

-- © Copyright The Nation Thailand 2020-03-21

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[Borzandy]

A lot of jet ski spammer and tuk tuk spammer and..... will lose their job.

[cornishcarlos]

1 hour ago, Jonathan Fairfield said:

if the Covid-19 pandemic continues,

 

If ?? I don't see it stopping just yet... They better be prepared for some hard times in the near future...

[Ireland32]

As they bring the Virus to Isaan To the elderly,  families etc

[madmitch]

Here we see the big difference between developing countries like Thaiand and developed countries.

 

Many Western countries are breaking their budgets to compensate people who are laid off work, whether permanent or temporary, as a result of COVID-19 restrictions. Here most of those who will be sent home will receive not a single baht from the Government, whose generosity so far has extended to give a 3% discount on electricity and water bills. It's surely time to dig into the reserves and help Thai citizens.

 

And the situation has now been exacerbated with the closure of shopping malls and markets in Bangkok. How are market traders going to make any sort of living and will stores continue to pay their stay-at-home staff? Come on Prayut, you need to help them....and that doesn't mean giving them a 1,000 baht shopping voucher!

[MrMo]

Mr Editor,   Your headline for this article should read "Over a million in tourism industry WILL lose jobs AS Covid-19 crisis continues"

[WineOh]

As someone who has worked in the tourism industry in Thailand and witnessed first hand how the vast majority of touts think and treat their guests, I for one can say i am glad.

 

You get what you deserve when you purposely kill the golden goose!!

Edited March 21, 2020 by Liverpoolfan

[soalbundy]

Those IO's at swampy must be getting bored, nobody to harass and refuse entry.

[Misterwhisper]

56 minutes ago, Borzandy said:

A lot of jet ski spammer and tuk tuk spammer and..... will lose their job.

No worries, they'll soon find a way to deploy their "talents" in alternative occupations. The thing with spamming is that it has an extraordinarily broad scope of application possibilities.

[tropo]

It's like people in Thailand are living in a bubble and they alone are suffering. Most countries around the world have shut their tourism industry down. Deal with it and stop the incessant whining.

[MikeyScars]

Social disorder coming soon to Thailand...

 

[Grumpy John]

Only one million or so out of work, which will be into next year at least.  Come next Christmas when things might be slowly getting normalised, people have got and spent the governments handouts,  used up their savings,  got back to work and are desperately trying to  pay the mortgage and put food on the table....I am pretty sure their not going to be thinking about a holiday! So it's more than likely a big up swing in tourist numbers is 2 years or more away.  That US$220 billion Prayut is sitting on had better be put to good use ASAP. 

Edited March 21, 2020 by Grumpy John
Smelling

[sammieuk1]

13 minutes ago, MikeyScars said:

Social disorder coming soon to Thailand...

 

Not only Thailand but even countries that slightly care about their citizens ????

[nobodysfriend]

TAT has been sitting on their ' high horse ' for much too long .

They took the 40 mio annual tourists for guaranteed income , nobody ever could have thought that something would happen to significantly decrease these numbers .

Now it is time to adjust .

Welcome to reality .

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[nobodysfriend]

7 minutes ago, James26 said:

who have had the disease—are immune

Some People had been infected , cured , and reinfected by Covid ...

Immunity , if acquired , may last a short time only ...

Edited March 21, 2020 by nobodysfriend

[smudger1951]

The devil makes work for idle hands. Financial support measures are being introduced in the UK, will people get that here ?

[Swimfan]

Keeping the numbers low again. I would have thought that a couple of million have already lost their job. 

[Swimfan]

3 minutes ago, nobodysfriend said:

Some People had been infected , cured , and reinfected by Covid ...

Immunity , if acquired , may last a sort time only ...

We all know the seasonal flu mutates and different strains abound each year and last years vaccine useless this year. 
Is it possible this virus can be the same??

[Dustdevil]

1 hour ago, madmitch said:

Here we see the big difference between developing countries like Thaiand and developed countries.

 

Many Western countries are breaking their budgets to compensate people who are laid off work, whether permanent or temporary, as a result of COVID-19 restrictions. Here most of those who will be sent home will receive not a single baht from the Government, whose generosity so far has extended to give a 3% discount on electricity and water bills. It's surely time to dig into the reserves and help Thai citizens.

 

And the situation has now been exacerbated with the closure of shopping malls and markets in Bangkok. How are market traders going to make any sort of living and will stores continue to pay their stay-at-home staff? Come on Prayut, you need to help them....and that doesn't mean giving them a 1,000 baht shopping voucher!

No aid to prostitutes, pimps or bar girls. To hell with them.

[greeneking]

4 hours ago, nobodysfriend said:

TAT has been sitting on their ' high horse ' for much too long .

They took the 40 mio annual tourists for guaranteed income , nobody ever could have thought that something would happen to significantly decrease these numbers .

Now it is time to adjust .

Welcome to reality .

How many Tourist Police does a country with no tourism need?

 

[Yadon Toploy]

6 minutes ago, Dustdevil said:

Well I hope the sex tourism industry goes away for a long time. Just because you have a pretty beach or a big city doesn't mean it has to be crawling with transvestite hookers and bar girls. Miami South Beach is very nice, and it doesn't need a sex industry to keep it going. My advice if I were Counselor to the PM of Thailand: DIVERSIFY YOUR ECONOMY.

They are just playing to their strengths. 

 

Sex is one of the things they are actually good at. 

 

And there ain't many. 

[cyril sneer]

7 minutes ago, Dustdevil said:

Well I hope the sex tourism industry goes away for a long time. Just because you have a pretty beach or a big city doesn't mean it has to be crawling with transvestite hookers and bar girls. Miami South Beach is very nice, and it doesn't need a sex industry to keep it going. My advice if I were Counselor to the PM of Thailand: DIVERSIFY YOUR ECONOMY.

You would Thailand had ghost town beaches?

[baansgr]

Only 1 million...who they kidding....and it's not only hospitality....all that condo construction will stop adding millions more with labour and supply chains...but hey, Thailand apparently is gonna be the only country in the world to let the Chinese back in April

[Jimbo 12345]

52 minutes ago, Liverpoolfan said:

As someone who has worked in the tourism industry in Thailand and witnessed first hand how the vast majority of touts think and treat their guests, I for one can say i am glad.

 

You get what you deserve when you purposely kill the golden goose!!

<deleted>

[natway09]

Just deiven home from Foodland & stopped at the lights.

First time ever in Thailand (has happened a few times in India & Indonesis)

2 guys tried to open my rear car doors. 

Take care everyone, theft & looting will continue the longer this carries on.

People will get desperate

[CGW]

26 minutes ago, Dustdevil said:

Well I hope the sex tourism industry goes away for a long time. Just because you have a pretty beach or a big city doesn't mean it has to be crawling with transvestite hookers and bar girls. Miami South Beach is very nice, and it doesn't need a sex industry to keep it going. My advice if I were Counselor to the PM of Thailand: DIVERSIFY YOUR ECONOMY.

Given the limited research you obviously did before making Thailand "home" I wouldn't employ you as a "Counsellor" Just sayin 

[nausea]

Well, some guys have always said tourism ain't that important, so this should be a gnat bight. Will be interesting to see what all these thousands of guys and gals do to make a living, now the tourism industry has collapsed.

[khunpa]

This is going to get much worse and go on for a long time. When It finally ends,

most people will not be able to afford to travel on holiday to Thailand.

 

[Chiang Mai Bill]

People will only take it seriously when either a family member or someone they know has died. THEN it will hit them!

[Dustdevil]

6 minutes ago, CGW said:

Given the limited research you obviously did before making Thailand "home" I wouldn't employ you as a "Counsellor" Just sayin 

Lots of assumptions. I've visited Thailand many times over many years but never lived there. And I stand by my comment: diversify your economy. Yes, I know they assemble a lot of cars---although the selection for the consumer is pathetically small.