In 2004, when a deadly tsunami hit Thailand’s Andaman coast, Khao Lak in Phang Nga province and Phuket were left devastated. Thousands of people lost their lives, including Thais and foreign tourists. Most resorts along the beautiful beaches were completely destroyed.

 

For a year after the devastating wave struck, the two provinces were like ghost towns, but their resilient tourism sectors soon started to bounce back. The following year, when several resorts had finished reconstruction and renovation, visitors returned. Hotels on the resort island and in Khao Lak enjoyed almost full occupancy rates again.

 

17 years have now passed and both places are ghost towns once again. Due to the COVID-19 restrictions, Thailand has not yet opened its borders to foreign visitors, a major source of income. Without tourists, the towns have become eerily quiet, umpteen businesses have closed. Thousands of people, who used to work in the hospitality sector, such as resort and travel agency staff, chefs, tour guides and van transfer drivers, have been forced out of work since the first wave of the COVID-19 pandemic. The catastrophic situation seemed never ending when the second wave of the pandemic hit. Now, the third wave, with infections, as of June 28th, 2021, rising to nearly 250,000 and a death toll of 1,934 is here.

 

Full Story: https://www.thaipbsworld.com/how-the-hospitality-workforce-on-the-andaman-coast-is-adapting-to-survive-the-coronavirus-pandemic/

 

-- © Copyright Thai PBS 2021-06-28

 

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Makes me wonder how the emergency services in the greater area coped with 250,000 fatalities in 1 hour and apparently we have to be careful to ensure we don't inundate the same services over the course of the last 18 months.

I'm sure the locals will have full occupancy again soon.????