Thailand, which is among the countries with the most coronavirus infection cases outside of China, has steadfastly kept its doors open to Chinese tourists and flights from China.

Attempts by Deputy Prime Minister and Health Minister Anutin Charnvirakul to scrap visas on arrival for Chinese travellers have come up against stiff resistance from a Cabinet wary of upsetting ties with Beijing. His plans have also met with resistance from a tourism sector trying to woo back Chinese tourists - who made up more than a quarter of all travellers to Thailand last year - after a boat disaster two years ago.