Bangkok to reopen for vaccinated tourists in October

Visitors in face masks and carrying umbrellas visit the 17th century Wat Chaiwatthanaram temple complex in the ancient capital of Ayutthaya, north of Bangkok. Thailand plans to reopen the capital Bangkok and 24 other destinations to fully vaccinated visitors in October, as the kingdom tries to salvage a tourism industry on its knees amid a deadly third wave of coronavirus infections. - AFP

BANGKOK Sept 11 (AFP): Thailand plans to reopen Bangkok to fully vaccinated visitors in October, officials have announced, as the kingdom seeks to salvage a tourism industry hammered by the pandemic.

Before Covid, tourism made up a fifth of Thailand's national income but severe travel curbs imposed to fight the virus saw the usual flood of foreign visitors dwindle to almost nothing, contributing to the economy's worst performance in over 20 years.