But excluding 2020, when the country imposed full outbreak restrictions, spending would be the lowest in nine years, Thanavath Phonvichai, president of the University of the Thai Chamber of Commerce, told a briefing.
"Last year, there was a nationwide lockdown and no Songkran holidays," he said, referring to the festival that takes place from April 13 to 15. Thailand has yet to lift its strict entry controls which have battered its key tourism industry, slashing foreign tourist numbers to 6.7 million last year from 40 million in 2019.
Thailand's tourism-reliant economy could contract in the first quarter from the preceding three months and the corresponding year earlier period due to the impact of a new coronavirus outbreak, the central bank said on Wednesday .