The government has halved its expected number of international visitors to 3-4 million this year and slashed its tourism revenue forecast.
Tourism and Sports Minister Phiphat Ratchakitprakarn said this month’s third outbreak of Covid-19 had battered tourism sentiment just as it was showing signs of rebounding after the second virus surge subsided.
Total tourism revenue for 2021 was being revised down from 1.218 trillion baht to 850 billion baht, the minister said.
Mr Phiphat pointed to yesterday’s new daily record of 2,070 infections and the great uncertainty over how the pandemic would pan out.
All things combined, he said, any hope of the country achieving its previous goal of attracting 6.5 million foreign tourists…
