Virus crisis will ease after Songkran: Tourism ministerAn information panel on Thurday shows some flights from Chinese cities to Don Mueang airport are cancelled as the coronavirus outbreak affects air travel. (Photo by Pornprom Satrabhaya)PHATTHALUNG: The Covid-19 corona virus crisis is expected to subside in the second half of the year or earlier, Tourism and Sports Minister Pipat Ratchakitprakan said on Sunday. In 2019, Thailand was visited by 38.9 million tourists, with revenue from tourism constituting 18% of gross domestic product (GDP). Before the outbreak of Covid-19,Thailand's revenue from tourism was expected to contribute at least 20% of GDP in 2020. The government is preparing to introduce financial measures to help those affected -- be they in the hotel, restaurant, trade or tourism businesses, Mr Pipat added.

Source: Bangkok Post February 23, 2020 08:37 UTC