As of March 17, 2024, Thailand had approximately 4.76 million confirmed COVID-19 cases. In that same period, there were 34,576 deaths from COVID-19 in the country.

Impact on the economy in Thailand The Thai economy was heavily impacted during the peak of the pandemic. Various restrictions were imposed in the country, resulting in businesses being temporarily interrupted or even permanently shut down. This resulted in a marked decrease in the gross domestic product (GDP) in 2020. One of the most impacted industries in Thailand was tourism. For months, Thailand had exercised regulations for visitors, such as quarantining, causing the tourism contribution to GDP to drop significantly.

Impact on the society in Thailand The COVID-19 pandemic also impacted the ways of life of Thai people. Apart from additional concerns for their health, Thai people had to adapt to changes in their daily lives. Some key changes include the increasing popularity of online shopping, cashless payments, online education, and even working from home. In January 2023, a survey conducted on online shopping behavior in Thailand suggested that the majority of Thais have shopped online more. Working from home also became the norm for many employees during the pandemic. For further information about the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, please visit our dedicated Facts and Figures page.

In 2024, the number of tourist arrivals amounted to around 35.6 million, which significantly increased from the previous years, which were approximately 28.2 million. The tourism industry in Thailand was one of the most negatively affected industries by the COVID-19 pandemic. Thai tourism industry rebound post-CIOVID-19 The vibrant culture, mouthwatering dishes, and breathtaking scenery make Thailand a top destination in the region. With the globally wide-spread COVID-19 outbreak, the Thai tourism industry was heavily affected due to global travel restrictions. However, since the pandemic was brought under control and restrictions were lifted, the sector showed signs of rebound and was expected to regain its momentum. In 2022, the Thai government eased COVID-19 restrictions, resulting in a significant increase in the annual volume of airport passengers in Thailand in 2023 and 2024. Thailand's visa waivers program The primary factor that tourists take into account when planning their travel is the travel expense. An increase in the price of travel was the most common concern about traveling among visitors to Thailand. In order to subsidize the expenses and increase the number of international tourists visiting the country, the Thai government has waived visas for citizens of China and India in 2024, and intends to provide visa-free travel to citizens of several additional nations in the future.