Thailand’s tourism, consumption, private investment and exports have been negatively impacted by the political turmoil which enters a fifth month today, according to the Bank of Thailand (BoT).
Don Nakornthab, director of the BoT’s Strategic Services Department, said the invocation of a state of emergency has affected several economic aspects, particularly tourism, which recorded arrivals of 2.3 million visitors or a 0.1 per cent growth in January, compared to a 6.7 per cent expansion in December.
The political conflicts have also impacted consumption, which shrank 1.5 per cent, and private investment, which fell by 8.6 per cent in January, he said, adding that exports declined by 1.5 per cent to a value of US$17.656 billion year-on-year.
He said auto exports to Southeast Asia and Australia have declined, along with exports of agricultural processed products, fishery products, rice and rubber.
The political dispute has diminished manufacturers’ confidence for a seventh consecutive month to an index of 45.4 with a continued declining trend, said Mr Don.
He said inflation was 1.93 per cent higher due to increasing prices of cooking gas, food ingredients and processed foods.
The BoT was optimistic that the country’s gross domestic product (GDP) would not suffer a deficit in the first quarter but this year’s GDP could be lower than 3 per cent if the political conflicts drag on to the third quarter, he said.
He said the BoT, Finance Ministry, Budget Bureau and National Economic and Social Development Board should have worked on a budget for the new fiscal year by now to propose to the Cabinet.
But the budgeting process for 2015 fiscal year has been delayed as the four agencies have not started the discussion, he said, adding that similar delays have happened twice.
