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Business trends

COVID wave crushes Thailand's already hobbled tourism sector

Hotel operators seek government support as at least 1m workers lose their jobs

Wat Phra Kaew, a major Bangkok tourist attraction: Due to the pandemic, the number of foreign visitors to Thailand dropped 83% in 2020 from the previous year. (Photo by Akira Kodaka)

BANGKOK -- Thailand's celebrated tourism industry is being rocked by an unprecedented number of business closures and job losses as it suffers through the country's second wave of COVID-19 infections and pleads with the government for aid.

At least 1 million workers in the country's hospitality sector have been laid off so far, according to the Thai Hotels Association, as lodging and other service operators suffer from the vanishing act pulled by tens of millions of foreign tourists.

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