Chili paste to haircuts - Thai tourism workers improvise as virus hits travel

A combination picture shows (L-R) Warunee Kaewsathitwong, assistant hostess manager, Natchawarin Tanasanphongsaton, restaurant manager, Juckkrit Sayplian, restaurant captain, Netchanok Wongchaiya, guest satisfaction agent, Ardar June Brown, chief receptionist and Thawatchai Tasago, assistant food and beverage manager posing on the roof of the Baiyoke sky hotel in their usual uniforms (top) and in the ones corresponding with their new tasks assigned by the hotel (bottom) as Thais adapt to the new economic reality during the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) outbreak in Bangkok, Thailand April 30, 2020. Pictures taken April 30, 2020. REUTERS/Athit Perawongmetha

BANGKOK (Reuters) - As Thailand's tourist economy suffers a near-total shutdown from travel restrictions due to the new coronavirus, employees in the industry have been forced to improvise to make ends meet.

Air purser Kosit Rattanasopon, 37, has traded in his cabin crew uniform for a delivery driver's jacket, stylishly ferrying food around Bangkok on his Ducati motorbike since the Thai airline he works for grounded all flights.