After being ravaged by Covid-19, Thailand Krabi’s tourism sector sees light at the end of Covid tunnel

BANGKOK, Feb 7 (The Nation Thailand/ANN): To see the disastrous impact of Covid-19 on Thailand’s tourism industry, look no further than Krabi.

Tourist arrivals in the southern holiday province plummeted from an average of 6 million per year to just 1.5 million in 2020. Meanwhile tourism revenue fell from around Bt120 billion to only Bt29 billion.

Towards the end of last year it seemed the worst was over, but then came another calamity.

“There was hope when we saw some tourists return to Krabi after the first outbreak of Covid-19 in Thailand. But my businesses have suffered again from this second outbreak,” local restaurant owner Amarit Siripornjutagun told The Nation last week.

There were now 80 per cent fewer customers at his Ruen Mai restaurant, said Amarit. Before the pandemic the place was…