In an effort to bolster the sagging tourism sector due to the coronavirus outbreak, the government of Thailand is considering adding two more public holidays, extending the Songkran festival to 9 days.
This was announced by Thailand’s Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha, although the decision has yet to be finalized.
The coronavirus epidemic, which started in China last December, is taking its toll on Thailand’s economy as more people avoid travelling around the globe.
In fact, China has banned tour groups to Thailand in a bid to contain the virus, severely affecting the tourism sector as the Chinese are Thailand’s largest tourist group.
The long holiday would definitely help tourism operators, as tourism accounts for 20% of Thailand’s gross domestic product, creating over 2 million jobs in the country.