Thai government officials on Wednesday checked the country’s airport preparations for quarantine-exempt passengers, who will return next month after nearly two years of strict Covid-19 rules that halted vital tourism.
From November 1, the country will allow vaccinated immigrants from low-risk countries to return to popular destinations such as Pattaya, Chiang Mai and Bangkok. Tourism before the pandemic was the main driving force of the economy, accounting for 12% of GDP.
However, the Tourism Bureau predicts that the number of foreign tourists this year will fall from 40 million in 2019 before the pandemic to 100,000. “November 1 is the first step,” said Transport Minister Saksiam Chidchob during a visit to Bangkok’s Don Mueang Airport on Wednesday.
“Foreign tourists and investors from at least 10 countries in the health and safety zone, as well as countries with good economic conditions, can come to the country for tourism and consumption.” Thailand reopened its resort town of Phuket on a trial basis earlier this year, allowing fully vaccinated tourists to skip Thailand’s mandatory two-week quarantine period, provided they stay on the island.
But Saksiam said that for travelers, a wider reopening would be simpler, because testing on arrival can be done at hotels and other accommodations, rather than at the airport. “The total time for tourists from passing through the terminal gate to leaving the airport will not exceed 25 minutes,” Saksiam told reporters.
News Source : Hindustan Times
