Home News Because of the coronavirus, tourist flow to Thailand decreased by 44%, guides lose their jobs

Nattakorn Ruengorte, deputy head of Phuket Professional Guides Association, said about 3,000 Chinese-speaking guides on the island have lost their jobs due to an outbreak of an unknown coronavirus in China.

These people need financial help, some of them can’t even pay their living bills.

Nattakorn Ruengorte notes that “At this time of year, the peak of the Chinese tourist season is usually on the horizon.” PhuketBut now more than 3,000 Chinese-speaking guides are out of work due to a drop in Chinese tourists.

According to him, the Association is ready to cooperate with officials to promote the industry and develop tourism from other countries, and guides should adapt to the current situation, learn languages used in Southeast Asia, cooperate with AirAsia and Nok Air, which operate flights from Asian countries.

Nattakorn believes that it is necessary to make efforts and attract tourists to the Songkran (Thai New Year) festival in April. “Target groups should be middle class in every country, they should be able to visit Thailand.”

About 7,000 guides are officially registered in Phuket, meaning half of them are unemployed and in dire straits.

The association announced its desire to receive a loan from the government on preferential terms in order to realize its goals.

Local experts are confident that the coronavirus will have a negative impact on Thai Tourism for the next 6 months.

Source: tourprom