Chiang Mai, Thailand (CNN) — Prior to the pandemic, Chiang Mai received around four million international visitors a year, according to Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) figures.
But the economic effects of Covid-19 on this tourist city and province of the same name in northern Thailand have been nothing short of devastating, with many travel-related businesses closing and thousands of people losing their jobs.
It’s estimated that in the period from January to June 2021, the tourism sector of Chiang Mai province lost over 60 billion baht (about $1.8 billion) in revenue, according to Watcharayu Kuawong, director of the Chiang Mai office of the TAT.
But relief may finally be on the way for operators of tourist-dependent businesses that have managed to hold on.
