The growth of international arrivals has increased every year; in 2019, the country received 39.8 million tourists and 25 percent of them, or 10 million, were Chinese tourists. The impact of the coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19) pandemic on Thai people and the tourist industry is tremendous. At that point, Thailand had reported 1,978 Covid-19 cases and 19 deaths and wanted to avoid importing more cases. Chaipat Mai, Grab driver said he stopped driving for Grab in January when there were few Chinese tourists. “I hope to make this an environmentally sustainable business for locals.”Pattama Vilailert is a Thai tourism consultant and community tourism trainer.

Source: Manila Times June 10, 2020 17:03 UTC