Minister says lack of foreign visitors will have knock-on effect for domestic tourism

The Tourism Minister says Thailand can expect a significant drop in domestic tourism unless international tourism is revived. According to a Bangkok Post report, Phiphat Ratchakitprakarn says local tourism figures are 40% of what they were in 2019, and are expected to drop further once the domestic travel stimulus scheme ends at the end of the year. The scheme has gone through multiple extensions since its introduction in July, with recent calls to extend it to December 2021.

Phiphat says a tough year lies ahead and that Thailand’s recovery will be more challenging than after the 1997 Asian financial crisis, due to the broader economic impact of the Covid-19 pandemic. He adds that the return of foreign tourists is essential to economic recovery and says that, while the Special Tourist Visa is a start, it is not enough.

“We have a precarious year for domestic tourism waiting for us…