An employee of the Pattaya water market sits idle waiting for visitors to arrive.
In Thailand, the whole year is the peak tourist season. The period from late November to early April is typically the most popular travel season, as a large number of visitors travel to temples, beaches and resorts in Thailand due to dry weather and low temperatures.
But the excitement of these popular attractions has now shifted. The famously prosperous attractions are now silent, as the "chinese tour" that once looked like part of the city`s landscape, such as bangkok, pattaya, phuket and chiang mai, disappears.
Thailand`s tourism industry and public health are severely affected by the new virus (Covid-19). Thailand`s new coronavirus infection rate ranks fifth in the world outside China, and 35 people have been diagnosed.
In 2019, Chinese tourists accounted for more than 27 percent of Thailand`s 39.7 million visitors. Now, from florists to tour guides, street vendors to hotel owners, there are complaints of loss of business everywhere.
Severe Strike
Millions of chinese citizens have been banned from travelling abroad since china`s government imposed strict travel controls to prevent the spread of the epidemic. This is a heavy blow to Thai tourism, which relies heavily on Chinese tourists.
Thailand`s tourism revenues account for about 13 to 14 percent of the country`s GDP, according to business analysts Fitch Solutions. Moreover, although the number of European tourists in Thailand has been declining, the number of Chinese tourists has increased significantly in the past few years.
That is why most of Thailand`s neighbors have been imposing stricter restrictions on Chinese visitors. But Thailand is doing the opposite: Thailand`s official and local business lines are sending a message that they are still opening their doors to Chinese tourists.
Welcome Chinese visitors
After the outbreak of pneumonia, a number of government agencies, such as Thailand`s government travel agency and Bangkok`s government, produced videos to provide moral support. The country`s largest tax-free retailer, King Power, owner of Leicester City`s football arm, has also produced videos of solidarity with China. In the video, travelers wave Chinese flags, including many celebrities such as Leicester City football stars, who speak in Chinese to cheer China.
But the message is not just courtesy or solidarity, but thailand`s heavy reliance on china`s tourism industry, which could cost thailand economics a lot if it doesn`t contain the virus quickly.
The association of thai tourism practitioners estimates that the coronavirus could cost thailand at least $1.7 billion in the first quarter of 2020.
The dancers in Bangkok are not as busy as usual
The most pessimistic forecast is that the full year of 2020 could cost as much as $9.6 billion.
"For us, Chinese tourists are our heroes, but now their numbers are down to zero," said Ronarong Chewinsiriamnuaiai, president of the Thailand-China Tourism Alliance. "
He added:" We don`t know when the travel restrictions will end, but what we know is that this has seriously damaged our business and may even eventually lead to layoffs. "
The magnificent Zheng Wang Temple in Bangkok is one of the city`s landmarks, but it`s rare when it`s empty
A representative of the local professional tour guide committee, who spoke on condition of anonymity, said the outbreak had actually resulted in unemployment because the 25,000 tour guides who hosted chinese tourists in thailand now have no guests.
Silent Buddha
Pattaya, in eastern Thailand`s bay, is known for its sandy beaches, once known as China`s mainland beach playground.
But only last week, The British Broadcasting Corporation learned that only four rooms were reserved for a 300-room hotel in the city. And the guests aren`t Chinese.
Ple Sinsunthornsap, a florist who sells flowers, said the square in Bangkok was a must-visit destination for Chinese tourists, but told The British Broadcasting Corporation`s Thai-language blog, Journalist, that her income from selling flowers to foreign believers had halved after the virus erupted.
"Before the outbreak, I made $32 a day, but now I make less than $16 a day," the mother-of-two said with tears.
She added that Chinese tourists had contributed a large number of flowers and other sacrifices to the "four-sided Buddha" square.
Lonely dancer
A similar experience was shared with The British Broadcasting Corporation by two dancers performing traditional thai performances at the square of the four-sided Buddha.
"My income has clearly fallen by 50 to 60 per cent. I don`t have plan B yet. Hopefully the epidemic will slow in the months ahead. Or my savings will run out. The situation looks serious," said dancer Suwana Thongpiw.
"For example, a Friday morning duty officer should perform about 200 to 250 dances," she said. But this Friday at around 2.15pm, I only danced 120 dances. "
Her colleague, Thanatchanok Sucharanon, said:" The number of visitors has halved from normal. I will need to take another job and reduce expenses. "
Su Wan that added:" I am worried about the outbreak of the epidemic, but I am more worried about almost no money. "
Pat thorn, who owns a seafood restaurant five kilometers from the four-sided Buddha, said she had to lay off workers because of the outbreak and 70% fewer guests after China announced travel control.
Boat vendors are waiting in Pattaya, a beach resort that usually attracts Chinese tourists, but it`s empty
"I employ ten staff in this restaurant. In response to this grim situation, I had to ask two of my employees to stay on pay and start recruiting more local guests. "
Mekong Blues
Jiang Nguyen, The British Broadcasting Corporation Vietnamese Editor-in-Chief
In the Mekong region, Thailand is not alone in the country where tourism has been hit hard by China`s coronavirus outbreak.
Vietnam`s tourism industry has also suffered huge losses. Before last year`s outbreak of pneumonia, trade between Vietnam and China was estimated at $106 billion.
Nearly 30 percent of the 15.5 million international visitors to Vietnam in 2019.
Visits to china rose 72.6% in just a month before the 2020 lunar new year, according to jornalist. however, the new coronavirus stopped this trend. Although vietnam has no ban on citizen`s entry into china, some temporary bans in haiphong city and da Nang have caused confusion.
In fact, China has also stopped many flights to Vietnam, the latter`s national carrier, Air Vietnam, and suspended many popular routes to major Chinese cities.
Tourism contributes an average of $30 billion a year to economics in vietnam.
So far, there are no official figures on how much damage Vietnam has suffered, but local media have been reporting complaints from hotel and restaurant owners, tour guides and tourism bureau officials.
The Golden Bridge on Mount Bana in Danang, Vietnam, is well received by Chinese visitors
He added that in many countries or regions where travel restrictions are imposed, even after a total ban on Chinese visitors, cases of viral infections have been found.
Therefore, the minister believes that Thailand has chosen to focus more on health check-ups and medical care, and that the travel ban is not a solution.
Deep friendship
Ronnarong Chewinsiriamnuai, president of the Thailand-China Association of Tourism Alliance, defended Thailand`s decision as a way to maintain close ties with China and strengthen relations with neighboring countries.
"By opening the border to the Chinese, we show the friendly relationship between the two countries," he said.
But not everyone agrees. Prajak Kongkirati, an assistant professor at Thailand`s Thamasat University School of Political Sciences, criticised the compromises with China that overwhelmed public health issues. "Public health issues and international relations are separate issues," he explained. There are many ways to promote relations between the two countries, such as humane assistance. "
He added that thai government`s decision reflects poor disease control efficiency and low levels of improved international relationship management. "Public health must come first," he stressed. "
But not every Thai seems to agree.
