BANGKOK (AP) — Thailand plans to allow vaccinated foreigners to go to the southern resort island of Phuket without quarantining on arrival in a step toward reviving the nation’s big but battered tourism industry.
Beginning in April, the nation is also shortening the quarantine period for arrivals from overseas to 10 days from 14.
Thailand’s tourism industry dried up when scheduled passenger flights into the nation had been barred in April the last yr to curb the spread of the coronavirus. There was a restricted resumption of flights since then.
The plan for Phuket is ready to start on July 1, and if judged successful, might include other popular destinations such as Samui Island, Krabi, Pattaya, and Chiang Mai in October, mentioned Yuthasak Supasor, head of the Tourism Authority of Thailand.
The government’s Center for Economic Situation Administration, chaired by Prime Minister Prayuth Chan-Ocha, approved the Phuket plan on Friday. It still needs final approval from Phuket’s governor and the Center for COVID-19 Situation Administration. Thailand last yr repeatedly canceled various reopening plans as the pandemic expanded abroad.
Part of the plan to institute what’s being called a “tourism sandbox” involves inoculating at least 450,000, or 70%, of Phuket’s residents before the July reopening. The inoculations are expected to begin in April.
If all goes smoothly, it’s hoped that around 100,000 tourists can be welcomed within the third quarter of the yr.
Before the pandemic, Phuket was the nation’s second-most popular destination after Bangkok. In 2019, it welcomed around 10 million foreign tourists and generated 470 billion baht ($15 billion) in revenue.
According to the Phuket Hotel Association, more than 50,000 employees in its hospitality sector lost their jobs last yr.
Thailand’s economy was severely hit by the COVID-19 pandemic, but Prayuth mentioned Friday that thanks to his government’s fiscal stimulus package and vaccination plans, he’s is optimistic that the nation can achieve 4% GDP growth this yr, compared to a 6.1% contraction in 2020.
