Don Mueang airport says they are ready to safely welcome foreign tourists, but any plan is likely still a ways off

Bangkok-

The General Manager of the Don Mueang airport spoke to associated press today and said they are “ready” to safely welcome foreign tourists and have implemented a vast variety of safety, testing and tracing procedures to protect and catch the potential spread of the Covid-19 virus.

General manager Sumpun Kutranon made the statements earlier today.

However, despite the statement that they feel they have properly implemented all safety standards and procedures, any decisions on allowing foreign tourists in, such as in a “travel bubble” style program like the proposed Phuket model, would be up to the Center for Covid-19 Situation Administration (CCSA) and Prime Minister Prayut Chan O’ Cha.

The CCSA, which is largely comprised of doctors, have been debating a proposed plan to let foreign tourists return with a variety of safety procedures, including quarantine and multiple Covid-19 tests, insurance and other steps, for several weeks now.

  You can read more about that debate and the plan by clicking here.

Sumpun revealed that Don Mueang expects a total of 13.6 million passengers this year, the majority being domestic. The airport currently averages 220 flights and 45,000 passengers daily.

Before the Covid-19 pandemic, the airport averaged 700 flights and 120,000 passengers a day. Last year they had over 41 million passengers, a combination of domestic and foreign tourists.

He said the airport had set a goal of fifteen million passengers earlier this year but do not believe they will hit that goal due to the ongoing Covid-19 pandemic, however, they hope to be able to safely allow back foreign tourists when-and if-the Thai Government allows this to happen.

As of press time, all discussed plans to allow in foreign tourists not part of strict preapproved groups such as those married or with work permits are only approved in principle and not set in stone.