COVID-19: Over 16,000 factory workers lose jobs in Thailand

In a statement, its director-general Prakob Vivitjinda said the department estimated Thailand lost 25.4 billion baht (10 baht=RM1.38) in investment following the closure of factories.

"Most small and medium enterprise (SME) factories were forced to close down due to COVID-19 pandemic and closure of various businesses and venues in the kingdom," he said.

To support local factories, he said DIW had proposed to the Industry Ministry a 148-billion-baht rehabilitation plan including offering soft loans with low interest rates.

Meanwhile, the Tourism Council of Thailand (TCT) estimated tourist arrivals would drop about 78 per cent to 8.5 billion this year and less than 500 billion baht in tourism receipts due to COVID-19 pandemic and global travel ban.

TCT president Chairat Triratanajaraspon expects the tourism sector would only recover in 2021.

As Thailand is scheduled to welcome six categories of foreign travellers including short-stay business travellers in the kingdom starting today, president of the Association of Thai Travel Agents, Vichit Prakobgosol, said, "it is not enough for the industry.

"These segments make up only 5.0 per cent of overall inbound market," he was quoted as saying by the Bangkok Post.

Thailand, the first country outside China to report COVID-19 case, has recorded 3,173 cases with 58 fatalities.

Over the last 24 hours, two new COVID-19 cases were reported - Thai nationals who returned from Kuwait - and zero fatalities. It has recorded 37 days without local transmission.

Thailand today kicked off its fifth and final relaxation as all businesses and venues including schools and entertainment outlets resume operations.

Yesterday, Thailand's cabinet approved the extension of the state of emergency to July 31 to reduce the risk of a second wave of COVID-19 outbreak in the kingdom.