SE Asia tourism splutters as virus keeps Chinese at homeAcross Laos, Thailand, Vietnam and Cambodia, tourist takings have plummeted as Chinese travellers find themselves subject to a host of travel restrictions. LUANG PRABANG, Laos: Elephant parks unvisited, curios at markets unsold as tuk-tuks sit idle: Southeast Asia is facing billions of dollars in losses from a collapse in Chinese tourism since the outbreak of a deadly new coronavirus. "The government doesn't tell people anything... so maybe less Chinese is a good thing for now." Thailand offers visa on arrival for Chinese tourists despite having one of the highest numbers of confirmed infections -- 34 -- outside of the mainland. With 10 million Chinese visitors each year, Thailand hopes the pain will ease in a few months.

Source: Bangkok Post February 16, 2020 06:11 UTC