(Photo by Wichan Charoenkiatpakul)The Tourism Authority of Thailand's (TAT) China office has told operators not to expect many Chinese tourists soon, due to rising unemployment and new infections. The surging unemployment rate of 6% or 27 million on the mainland remains a challenge as Thailand eagerly awaits its No.1 source market. He said Thailand will face tough competition from rivals to lure Chinese tourists back, led by the Maldives, which plans to lift travel restrictions to all nationalities in July. The TAT's best case is tourists will return to Thailand during Golden Week or the national holiday in October. In the worst case, Thailand has to wait until Chinese New Year in 2021, which will fall in February.

Source: Bangkok Post June 16, 2020 00:22 UTC