A story of Thailand - After two pandemic years, a summer travel bounce and now chaos

People walk past a mythical giant decorated with face masks near the check-in counters at Suvarnabhumi International Airport in Bangkok on July 1, 2022. From July 1 tourists will only have to carry proof of their vaccination against the Covid-19 coronavirus or take a test on arrival, as Thai authorities cancelled the "Thailand Pass" system that had required visitors to register and show proof of vaccination before entering the kingdom. - AFP

BANGKOK/JERUSALEM, July 2 (AP): At a tourism conference in Phuket last month, Thailand’s prime minister looked out at attendees and posed a question with a predictable answer.

"Are you ready?” Prayut Chan-O-Cha asked, dramatically removing his mask and launching what's hoped to be the country's economic reset after more than two years of coronavirus-driven restrictions.