The Economic Impact of the COVID-19 Pandemic at Thailand-Lao PDR Border Area: A Case Study of Udonthani A Case Study of Udonthani

Abstract

This research article aimed to study the economic impact of the COVID-19 pandemic in Udontani to endeavor to grasp about the effect from this non-traditional threat, which benefit to the management of the similar problem in the future. This research was a qualitative research using focus group discussion (FGD) as an important research instrument. The key informants were the stakeholders from public and private sectors divided into two groups: economic affairs and social affairs amount to 7 informants in each group. The result found that Udon Thani was affected by the lockdown policy, particularly tourism business was adversely affected. For the investment, there were many businesses closed down during the pandemic and there were many migrant workers lost their job and income so the government assistance was significantly desired. However, the border trade was less affected because the majority of goods are the consumer goods which highly demand in the market of the neighboring country. The important finding from this research was that the stakeholders have adjusted and turn a crisis into an opportunity by promoting employees’ skills such as the using of omni-channel, using information technology for business, besides the public-private-people partnership was an important protocol that helped everyone fighting against this crisis.