Covid-19 situation will ease after Songkran, said Tourism Minister
PHATTHALUNG — Tourism and Sports Minister Pipat Ratchakitprakan said on Sunday that the Covid-19 situation is expected to weaken after Songkran Festival.
He said coronavirus has had a serious impact on Thailand. In 2019, Thailand was visited by 38.9 million tourists, with revenue from tourism constituting 18% of gross domestic product (GDP). Before the outbreak of Covid-19, Thailand’s revenue from tourism was expected to contribute at least 20% of GDP in 2020.
Since the epidemic began spreading around the world, Thailand has gained a reputation for effective screening for the virus, he said, building up confidence amoung tourists. Thailand’s public health system has won widespread recognition for this.
“Although the virus has caused damage to the tourism industry in the first half of the year, I am confident the situation will return to normal in the second half or after the Songkran Festival, when China will likely produce a vaccine against it,” Mr Pipat said.
He added that with the onset of summer, Covid-19 will not be able to withstand the heat and the situation in many countries — including Thailand — will improve.
The government is preparing to introduce financial measures to help those affected — be they in the hotel, restaurant, trade or tourism businesses, Mr Pipat added.
Source: Bangkok Post
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