Once-popular tourist market abandoned in Thailand amid Covid-19 pandemic

Footage shows a once-popular night market that now lies abandoned amidst the outbreak of the Covid-19 pandemic which has destroyed tourism in Thailand.

Artbox on the Sukhumvit Road in the capital Bangkok had dozens of food stalls and bars that attracted holidaymakers from China and other countries every night.

However, Thai government chiefs closed the country's borders on March 22 and they have not re-opened since.

The market, which opened on September 15, closed on September after being starved of customers, which lead to traders being unable to afford the rent land.

The area is now likely to be sold off to a developer.

Owner Phanarat Muennoi told local media that he had tried to keep the market running but the virus travel restrictions had caused the loss of the ''main customer base''.

In 2019, tourism accounted for up to 20 per cent of Thailand's GDP but with little sign of the country's borders re-opening during the current coronavirus second wave, economists fear it could take several years for the economy to recover.