CityNews – Not only are Chinese tourists stocking up on masks to wear during their time here, but many are also buying in bulk to take home. This has led to an increase in price for masks, especially in popular areas such as Nimmanhaemin.
In spite of reports of a dramatic drop in numbers of Chinese tourists, walking around Nimmanhaemin at any given time of the day or night, would belie that fact, as there appears to be a very, ahem, healthy number of tourists still in the area. Pharmacists and shops which sell masks say that sales have been more than brisk as some tourists tell staff working there that they fear for future outbreaks and that there may be not enough masks provided in China, so they are being prepared by stock piling them.
Many outlets have now put signs up to say that they have run out of masks. The stampede to purchase, according to many shop owners, began two weeks ago and the masks began to run out last week. According to one pharmacist, a box of 50 masks used to be sold for 100 baht, but some places are now selling them for as much as 500 baht. He went on to say that with every new order he makes, he sells out within a very short period of time.
However, more expensive masks such as N95, are not flying off the shelf as fast. Sales of hand sanitisers have also been brisk, he said.
