TAT forced to face reality: more than a third of the Thai tourist industry has gone bust - Thai Visa

 TAT forced to face reality: more than a third of the Thai tourist industry has gone bust

 

Image: Reuters

 

The Tourism Authority of Thailand are having to face reality after one of their own surveys showed them their rose tinted view was a complete sham.

 

Earlier in the week TAT governor Yutthasak Suphasorn - author of the failed STV scheme - claimed that 10 million foreign tourists would be arriving from midyear and, along with Thais, would be spending 1.2 TRILLION baht on the tourist industry this year.

 

This was greeted with incredulity in many areas.

 

Now the starry eyed governor has had to admit that little might be left of the tourist industry even if people worldwide start to travel again. A highly debatable question.

 

A TAT survey between January 10 and 12 asked 1,884 businesses how they were getting along. 

 

34.66% said they had already shut down and gone out of business.

 

Those that were left begged him to provide emergency assistance on utility bills and for staff wages.

 

Without this help they feared that they too would go under.

 

The TAT surveyed businesses in the areas of accommodation, travel firms, restaurants, vehicle rental companies and public transport businesses, reported Thai media.

 

The message came back loud and clear.

 

We've either gone bust or will do without immediate help.

 

A far cry from the governor's optimistic outlook just a few days before.