BANGKOK — Thailand Prime minister on Wednesday said, the nation likely to fully reopen to vaccinated foreign travelers by mid-October as the government looking for the revival of the tourism industry which was badly hit by the pandemic.
Prime Minister Prayuth Chan-Ocha added, “I know this decision comes with some risk because, when we open the country, there will be an increase in infections, no matter how good our precautions, But I think when we take into consideration the economic needs of the people, the time has come for us to take that calculated risk.”
Tourism is a major contributor to Thailand’s economy and employs millions of people. The country attracted nearly 40 million foreign arrivals in 2019, which plunged in 2020 because of an entry ban to control the coronavirus.
Prayuth said the government would reconsider the reopening only if a serious situation develops.
The government had previously targeted next January for reopening the country.
Thailand is in the midst of a surge in coronavirus cases that started in April and has accounted for more than 80% of the country’s 204,595 total confirmed cases and 90% of its 1,525 deaths.
“To date, we have signed reservation and supply contracts for 105.5 million doses to be delivered this year, putting us ahead of our target for vaccine supplies,” he mentioned. “Based on our current plans, we will administer an average of about 10 million shots a month from July, so that by early October almost 50 million people will have had at least their first shot administered.”
Thailand plans to begin a trial scheme next month in which it will allow fully vaccinated visitors from abroad to enter Phuket without quarantine. But the so-called “Phuket sandbox” still entails restrictions, including a requirement to stay on the island for 14 days before heading to the mainland.
