Thailand tourism a far cry from recovering

Although tourism has picked up in recent months, the tourism industry in Thailand is far from recovering, with huge jobs and business losses in a sector that typically accounts for about 12% of Thai gross domestic product.

Thailand has announced that it would abandon its much-criticized pre-registration process for foreign visitors and no longer require face masks to be worn in public, responding to a slower COVID-19 spread.

Tourism Minister Pipat Ratchakitprakan told reporters that the “Thailand Pass” system, where foreign tourists must seek prior approval from Thai authorities, will be halted from July 1, removing one of the country’s last remaining travel curbs.