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Thailand: FTI executives wary of reopening plan
Most executives attached to the Federation of Thai Industries (FTI) want the government to reopen Thailand only if Covid-19 infections, which are currently rising, are brought under control, according to the latest FTI survey.
FTI’s CEO survey gauged the opinions of executives following Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha’s announcement on June 16 of a controversial target to reopen Thailand within 120 days and his request during a TV broadcast that people take a risk that is well-assessed and manageable.
Up to 56.7% of 201 FTI executives said Thailand should reopen when the number of new infections had decreased significantly, said FTI vice-chairman Wirat Uanarumit.
“To open or not to open, the government should give weight to the country’s readiness and Covid-19 situation both in Thailand and foreign countries,” he said, referring to the majority of views given by executives across 45 industries and all FTI branches countrywide.
Some 31.3% of respondents agreed with the 120-day target while 9.5% said it was not the right time to welcome back foreign tourists in the next three to four months, according to the findings.
Only 2.5% wanted to see Thailand reopen ahead of the 120-day time frame.
The poll also found that 59.2% of respondents want reopening to be carried out gradually in some provinces first, compared to 6% who supported the idea of reopening the whole country at once.
Some 34.8% agreed with a sealed route plan and Phuket’s reopening, set to take place today, as a model.
According to the findings, 81.6% of executives believe the Thai economy will “slowly recover” after the government reopens the country.
However, 14.4% did not expect better economic prospects due to the severe impact of Covid-19 and concerns over the global economy.
Only 4% expected the Thai economy to return to normal or conditions before Thailand was hit by Covid-19 in early 2020.
Source: https://www.bangkokpost.com/business/2141343/fti-executives-wary-of-reopening-plan