Thai massage workers were waiting for customers today (February 4) after COVID-19 restrictions were eased but tourists are still being kept away from the country.

Footage from the Sukhumvit Road area of Bangkok, Thailand, shows the women after shops re-opened following a second wave of coronavirus infections, which triggered lockdowns and orders for all massage to close.

The outbreak was brought under control and massage venues were allowed to re-open at the start of the month. However, with tourists arrivals into the country still limited, the businesses are struggling.

Thailand’s Krungsri Bank forecasts that it will be up to three years before tourism returns to its pre-pandemic levels. The country has recorded 19,618 Covid-19 infections and 77 deaths as of February 1 but the impact on the tourism-dependent economy has been devastating.