Locals were able to return to green parks in Bangkok today (June 15) after some of the city’s Covid-19 restrictions were lifted.

Footage shows residents enjoying the peaceful surroundings in Lumpini Park in the Thai capital. The lake has been closed since May following a surge in Covid-19 infections

Ministers in Thailand hope to gradually re-open the country while they battle delays to the vaccine roll-out, which started last week but stalled amid a shortage of shots. Massage parlours and tattoo studios re-opened on Monday.

Thailand has recorded 202,264 Covid-19 cases and 1,485 deaths as of June 14. Plans to re-open the country to tourists involve ‘sandbox’ quarantine areas where vaccinated visitors can stay while roaming around beaches and bars for 14 days.

However, economists fear that it could be up to five years before the country’s tourism industry returns to pre-pandemic levels.

Two years ago tourism made up an estimated 21 per cent of Thailand’s GDP, generating 1.8 trillion baht in revenue. However, the country’s National Economic and Social Development Council predicted that it could be another five years before similar numbers are seen.

Analysts said that between now and 2026, around seven million workers will continue to be affected by the economic harm from the Covid-19 pandemic.