Starting again: Thailand’s reopening gives hope despite challenges and risks

[webfact]

 

Many operators in the hospitality sector have gone through the worst of their business lives due to the pandemic but now, with Thailand once again open to visitors, they are hoping for a better future. Most businesses have resumed, albeit in a new normal way, but despite the relatively positive outlook, hotel operators believe it will more than a year before Thailand’s tourism is back on track.

 

The country reopened for tourists on November 1, and the lockdowns and restrictions have been lifted in Bangkok and in the provinces. Thailand’s economic recovery relies on the progress made with the vaccination program and the tourism sector, which accounts for 12% of GDP.

 

But no one believes tourists will return overnight. Bangkok Bank (BBL) forecasts that the country is expected to welcome back foreign tourists at around 50% of the record rate before the pandemic (4 billion in 2019), and this should increase to 80% of the pre-COVID level in 2023.

 

Full story: https://www.thaipbsworld.com/starting-again-thailands-reopening-gives-hope-despite-challenges-and-risks/

 

-- © Copyright Thai PBS 2021-11-25

 

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[Mentors65]

????

[daveAustin]

Not until you drop the silly paperwork, obligatory hospital prison sentence and open everything up it won’t. And even then, they assume that millions just can’t wait to come to Thailand, when in reality many just won’t fly again. 

Edited November 25, 2021 by daveAustin

[smedly]

14 minutes ago, webfact said:

Most businesses have resumed

really ?

[Misterwhisper]

What "reopening"? Why is this word perpetuated again and again by the press? There is no "reopening".

[zzaa09]

Sure.

Hope to whom? 

[zzaa09]

3 minutes ago, Misterwhisper said:

What "reopening"? Why is this word perpetuated again and again by the press? There is no "reopening".

Repeated often and loud enough, it all becomes real and true.

[Farangus]

What kind of open Thailand are they writing about?  I watched a video from the evening Pattaya.  The city is deserted, on Walking Street it is quiet and everything is closed with shutters with signs "For Sale".  There was a little activity only in the center of Beach Road, as  on that day there was a Music Festival.

[horizon202]

4 billion tourist, = 4.000.000.000, ....????

Thai math : 1 and 2 and 3.... many, many, many...????

No education...

[zoltannyc]

4 billion tourists - the population of the Earth is only 7.7 billion....hmmm

[johng]

4 hours ago, webfact said:

the tourism sector, which accounts for 12% of GDP.

Before this Covidiocy there where estimates of up to 30% of GDP from tourism.

If you include the underground/grey economy derived from tourism I would not be surprised if 30% was much more nearer the real percentage.

[hotchilli]

18 hours ago, webfact said:

Thailand’s economic recovery relies on the progress made with the vaccination program and the tourism sector, which accounts for 12% of GDP

BS

[George Aylesham]

21 hours ago, smedly said:

really ?

Not in Chiang Mai as a quick downtown will show.

[bangon04]

"and the tourism sector, which accounts for 12% of GDP."

 

other estimates are available.......frequently

[asiasurfer]

Please note: Most small/private tourism businesses have closed down, not reopened. 

 

Was on some island recently... Dead like a dodo. 

[asiasurfer]

On 11/25/2021 at 2:01 PM, smedly said:

really ?

No ????

[Stargeezr]

With Europe getting restrictions and lock downs, Thailand may get more tourists from there

while the still healthy and double jabbed people can escape Europe.  I have a few brave friends leaving from Canada

soon, as our Winter has started as well and it is getting cooler, plus the north half of Canada is pretty much snow covered.

  Good Luck all you lucky people.