Bangkok reopening soon

Out and about: People visiting the Wat Chaiwatthanaram complex in Ayutthaya, north of Bangkok as Thailand plans to reopen the capital and other destinations in a bid to salvage its tourism industry. — AFP

THE country plans to reopen Bangkok to fully vaccinated visitors in October, officials said, as the kingdom seeks to salvage a tourism industry hammered by Covid-19.

Before the pandemic hit, tourism made up a fifth of Thailand’s national income but severe travel curbs imposed to fight the virus saw the usual flood of foreign visitors dwindle to almost nothing, contributing to the economy’s worst performance in over 20 years.