Thai tourism feeling the pinch as coronavirus keeps Chinese visitors away

The COVID-19 pandemic has led to the postponement or cancellation of several events in Thailand, including the MotoGP race and Songkran festivities in several provinces. Thailand’s tourism authority is expecting a drop of six million visitors compared to 2019. The COVID-19 outbreak has practically wiped out nearly all Chinese tourist arrivals. The Chinese make up more than a quarter of total visitor arrivals in Thailand. Around two million of them visited Phuket in 2019, but that number has now dropped by 70%. Thailand is one of the few countries in the region that has not shut its doors to the Chinese.