BANGKOK, April 9 (TNA) — Thailand’s income from tourism plunged by 222 billion baht in the first quarter of this year, according to Tourism and Sports Minister Phiphat Ratchakitprakarn.
From January to March 6.7 million people visited Thailand. The number dropped by 38% or 4.1 million from the same period of last year, he said.
In the first quarter, the country generated 334 billion baht from tourism. The amount fell by 40% or 222 billion baht. The minister said that tourists stopped travelling worldwide due to the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic.
“The number of tourists plunged just when the COVID-19 outbreak started in February because Chinese tourists stopped their travel,” Mr Phiphat said.
According to him, 3.81 million people visited Thailand in January, rising 2.6% year-on-year. The number plummeted by 43% to 2 million in February and 76% to 830,000 in March.
Thailand’s tourism-related income amounted to 188 billion baht in January, down 3.6%, 103 billion baht in February, down 44%, and 42 billion baht in March, down 76%. (TNA)
