People wearing protective face masks at the BTS train after the government eased some protective measures following the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) outbreak in Bangkok , Thailand, June 16, 2020. REUTERS/Jorge Silva
BANGKOK: Thailand recorded no foreign tourists for a second month in May as borders remained closed to control the Covid-19 coronavirus spread, with the 6.69 million visitors from January to May a slump of 60% from a year earlier, the tourism ministry said on Friday.
Spending by foreign tourists over the first five months was also down 60% to 332 billion baht ($10.75 billion).
The tourism-reliant country, which had a record 39.8 million tourist arrivals last year, imposed a ban on incoming flights in April, when it first had zero foreign visitor.
In May alone last year, there were 2.73 million foreign tourists who spent 118 billion baht ($3.82 billion).
International passenger flights remain banned until the end of June and there are plans to allow some inbound foreign travellers starting next week.
Thailand has been 32 days without a domestic transmission of the virus and most of its patients have recovered.
The central bank forecast the number of foreign tourists to plunge 80% this year to 8 million. Last year, spending by foreign visitors accounted for 11.4% of GDP. - Reuters
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