The first international travellers touched down Thursday in the holiday hotspot of Phuket under a quarantine-free scheme, as Thailand tries to reboot its battered tourism industry while also enduring its worst coronavirus outbreak.Tourism makes up almost a fifth of the Thai economy, and the COVID-19 pandemic has led to its worst performance since the 1997 Asian financial crisis.The kingdom is pinning hopes for a much-needed revival on the so-called "Phuket sandbox" – a model that wi

Thailand will begin reopening its borders to outsiders in efforts to kickstart a tourism industry battered by the coronavirus with a flight from China later this month, authorities said Friday.The kingdom's economy is highly dependent on foreign visitors.The country is expecting a fraction of the nearly 40 million international arrivals it recorded last year, after the pandemic brought global air travel to a near standstill. Officials hope to portray the country as a safe holida

Hotels on Thailand's most popular holiday island have been forced to slash prices with rooms left vacant and beaches sparse as tourist chiefs struggle with a plunge in Chinese visitors caused by the US trade war and a stronger baht.Located on the Andaman Sea and known for its beaches and nightlife, sun-drenched Phuket was the most visited destination in the country last year after Bangkok and a good gauge of the state of its crucial travel industry.Tourism accounts for 18 percent of Thai