An industry leader in Chonburi has painted the grimmest picture yet of the devastating effect of the coronavirus outbreak on tourism in #Pattaya.
Speaking to 77kaoded was acting chair of the Federation of Thai Industries, Chonburi Chapter, Thanet Suphasahatrangsee.
He claims there are now ZERO percent tourists in Pattaya. Until recently there have been a few remaining Russians scattered around the resort.
But the new requirements to have health certificates and 100,000 baht insurance policies have put and end to that.
He said that 80% of the tourism industry in Pattaya faces either temporary or permanent closure.
The effect of the outbreak will be felt for at least 10 to 12 months. Probably longer.
He now predicts sell offs to foreign business interests, without explaining who he thinks might consider buying into a market without customers.
He said that the nature of the tourist industry with its great labor intensity needs meant that it was particularly badly hit as workers needed salaries and employers needed to keep up social security payments.
Tourism industry leaders had met with Pattaya mayor Sontaya Khunpluem to outlined a six point plan to present to the government to help businesses from going to the wall.
This included help in paying up to 70% of wages to workers for 180 days, deferring social security payments for six months, help with tax and interest payments, assistance in paying electric and water bills and the cost of cleaning products.
However, their time might be better spent planning for the inevitable crime-wave.
Thanet recognized that measures taken by the government in shutting down much of the life of the country were important and accepted by those in industry.
But by the same token the government must understand the enormous effect this has taken on the economic life of the nation, especially in the tourism sector.
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