Thailand has decided to allow foreign tourists to visit the country for longer stays starting October, as the government tries to revive the tourism industry – a key economic sector that has been largely disrupted by the COVID-19 pandemic. Thailand Governor Yuthasak Supasorn said in a recent press statement that tourists entering the country will have to stay for at least 30 days, with the first 14 days in quarantine in a limited vicinity of their hotel, before they can visit other areas.
The latest announcement comes following authorities suspended plans to create ‘travel bubbles’ with partner countries as the number of coronavirus cases in Asia increased. Yuthasak also informed that the latest move will start on October 1 with Phuket. Phiphat Ratchakitprakarn, Minister of Tourism and Sports, Thailand also informed that visitors will have to take two coronavirus tests during quarantine before they are able to travel to the rest of the island. Staff will also have to remain in the hotel during the same time.
Visitors will have to take an additional test and remain within the province for another week before they can travel to other parts of the country. According to latest reports, Thailand has gone nearly three months without a confirmed case of a local COVID-19 transmission and has been recognised across the globe for its outstanding efforts to fight the coronavirus crisis. The government’s coronavirus taskforce also extended a state of emergency for another month until the end of September to control the outbreak.
Tags: Coronavirus, Covid-19, Phuket, Thailand
