NAKHON RATCHASIMA — Rising fuel costs have hit local tourism hard, leaving once-busy attractions deserted, according to reports from Phimai Historical Park in Mueang Phimai district.
On Thursday, the park’s parking lot was nearly empty, a sharp contrast to the usual crowds visiting the ancient Khmer ruins. Gift shops outside the park also saw no customers, leaving vendors struggling to make sales.
Chuleeporn Chokka, 70, a souvenir seller at the park, said the high fuel prices have kept both locals and tourists away. “We invested our savings and even borrowed money to stock our shops, but now we can’t sell anything. The fuel costs make it too expensive for people to travel,” she said. Chuleeporn urged the government to address the problem quickly to help local businesses survive.