Phuket businesses seek B50bn in helpAn official fumigates a tour bus in a bid to control the novel coronavirus in Phuket province on Monday. "Each year three million Chinese tourists visit the island and this year's huge shortfall has been felt in most business sectors. "Some local tour companies have been forced to shut down their businesses permanently," Mr Sarayut said. Researchers from Prince of Songkla University's Phuket campus said local workers in tourism-related businesses are likely to have to bear the impact for seven months, which will cause 4.5 billion baht in lost revenue. Authorities should also consider reducing oil tax for planes to encourage people to fly to Phuket, suggested Phuket Chamber of Commerce chairman Thanusak Phuengdet.

Source: Bangkok Post February 17, 2020 23:03 UTC