The increasing number of new coronavirus cases is expected to take a toll on the Thai economy, with not just tourism but manufacturing, exports, retail and agricultural sectors also feeling the pinch, an economist warned while calling on the central bank to cut its key policy rate to shore up the economy.



Anusorn Tamajai, director of the Economic and Business Research Centre at Rangsit University, warned that the impact of the coronavirus outbreak is expected to be significant as countries close borders, impose travel restrictions and businesses shut down factories in an attempt to contain the spread of China’s new coronavirus.


The death toll has crossed 300 while more than 14,000 patients worldwide are infected by the virus.


The impact will go beyond the tourism industry to manufacturing, exports and the agricultural sectors. It is likely to alter the global geopolitical setting, he warned.

MORE Coronavirus outbreak to hit many sectors of Thai economy