Covid-19 Thailand – Latest Updates (16th July, 2020)
Latest Cases – 3,236 (+ 4) Recovered – 3,095 (+ 3) Hospitalized – 83 Died – 58
New Health and Safety Standards for Tourism
A group of Thailand’s leading Destination Management Companies (DMCs) have developed the new Thailand Hygiene Plus Initiative (THPI) in the wake of the devastation wrought on the tourism industry by the COVID-19 pandemic.
The standards incorporate, but aren’t limited to, those included in the Tourism Authority of Thailand’s ‘Amazing Thailand Safety and Health Administration’ (SHA) Certification Program that was launched in May 2020 as a method for identifying businesses—including hotels, attractions, eateries, transport companies, tour operators and more—that have passed official inspection for implementing all appropriate COVID-19 hygiene and quality-control methods.
The new THPI’s aim is to advance a step further toward solidifying confidence in Thailand as a destination, as well as its tourism facilitators, as being safe for travel as the country begins its phased reopening to international visitors.
Full Story: TravelPulse
Bangkok property market takes $4.7 billion hit ‘with worse to come’
BANGKOK — The virus crisis has wiped a whopping Bt150 billion ($4.7 billion) off the value of the residential market in Bangkok and surrounding provinces, Krungthai Bank research revealed Thursday.
Meanwhile, the reservation rate for new apartments and houses fell from 20 percent in the fourth quarter of 2019 to 15 percent in the first quarter of 2020 before falling again in the second quarter to 12 percent.
Phacharaphot Nuntramas, director of the bank’s Compass research centre, said the property business has been hit hard by the Covid-19 crisis, with demand for new residences still falling.
Domestic consumers have been affected by an economy expected to shrink by up to 8.8 percent this year, while foreigners – especially the Chinese – were hit by lockdown measures that hindered purchase or transfer of ownership, he added.
The research center estimates the value of the residence market in Bangkok and nearby provinces has dropped by 27 percent from Bt570 billion ($18 billion) to Bt420 billion ($13.2 billion).
Full Story: BusinessInquirer
