THURSDAY, March 28, 2024
nationthailand

New Covid-19 wave dents TAT's Songkran tourism targets

New Covid-19 wave dents TAT's Songkran tourism targets

The new Covid-19 wave has dampened the travel plans of people across the country during Songkran, dealing a setback to the Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT)'s targets.

 

TAT Governor Yuthasak Supasorn said that the effect of the new Covid-19 outbreak in the short term was being estimated by his organisation.

 

The TAT has forecast the following scenarios during Songkran:

 

▪︎ People decide to return to their hometowns, despite Covid-19, as they had not gone home last year due to the nationwide lockdown.

 

▪︎ People decide to travel to safer cities or areas; they take their personal cars, instead of public transportation.

 

▪︎ People decide to stay at home during the festival time, as they are worried about getting infected by Covid-19.

 

Yuthasak estimated that total travellers during Songkran will not reach his organisation’s target.

 

Separately, the Tourism Council of Thailand (TCT) told the press that 10 to 20 per cent of people had already cancelled their room bookings during the festival holidays.

 

Information on preventive measures of each province was being collected, TCT president Chumnan Srisawat said.

 

TAT expected hotel occupancy during the Songkran holidays at 31 per cent, with 3.20 million travellers. Spending to circulate in the tourism sector was targeted at Bt12 billion.

 

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