BANGKOK - Thailand is expected to see at most 8 million foreign tourists this year, down 80% from a year earlier, as the coronavirus pandemic cuts global travel, a tourism body said on Tuesday.

The tourist sector, a key driver of Thai growth, is expected to recover in 2021, Chairat Triratanajaraspon, president of the Tourism Council of Thailand, told reporters.

Last year, Thailand had a record 39.8 million foreign tourists, whose spending accounted for about 11% of Thai GDP.

(Reporting by Satawasin Staporncharnchai Writing by Orathai Sriring Editing by Ed Davies) ((orathai.sriring@tr.com; +662 0802309;))