Thailand’s economy will take two years to recover but the tourism sector may take even longer possibly not fully recovering to its pre-pandemic numbers for several years. On a more positive note the country’s Finance Minister said that timetable could be speeded up if Covid-19 vaccines prove to be effective.

However, Finance Minister Arkhom Termpittayapaisith said he expects 2021 to be a struggle for the tourism industry and that it is possible the country will not get back to the 40 million tourists it hosted in 2019, until as late as 2024.

Tourism contributes nearly 20% of Thailand’s GDP.

The Minister urged the government to move away from a reliance on inbound tourism to other industries, including green initiatives and digital technologies.

Borders have been opened for approved visitors under a Special Tourism Visa scheme with a mandatory quarantine. So far has about 1,200 people on special charter flights have visited Thailand under this system.

The Minister for Sports and Tourism, Pipat Ratchakitprakan said general tourism will remain closed until the second quarter of 2021.