Pattaya, Chonburi –
The Tourism and Sports Ministry is pushing for Pattaya City to become a ‘Sandbox’ to welcome foreign tourists without quarantine. The Pattaya City Mayor is suggesting to receive one million doses of Covid -19 vaccines to make the proposed program work.
A meeting was held today at the Pattaya City Hall and was led by the Minister of Tourism and Sports Pipat Ratchakitprakar, the Chonburi Governor Phakarathorn Teanchai, and The Pattaya City Mayor Sonthaya Khunplume.
Mr. Pipat said, “Thailand is first planning to have an ‘Area Quarantine’ in hotels which Pattaya will be a part of.”
“Foreign tourists from selected countries who have had two Covid – 19 vaccinations will be quarantined in their hotel for only seven days.” Pipat said.
“While other foreign tourists who haven’t had the vaccine will be quarantined for 10 days. Foreign tourists from Africa will still have 14-days quarantine regardless of their status. Not every country depending on risk factor will be able to apply as well.” Pipat explained.
“This campaign is for foreign tourists from about 120 countries with low and medium risks of Covid -19. However, we are not fully ready to open for tourists on April 1st.” Pipat added.
“If Chonburi and Pattaya is chosen to be a ‘Sandbox’ area which is no quarantine for foreign tourists from selected countries, more Covid -19 vaccines will be provided to Pattaya to vaccinate tourism workers and local residents.” Pipat continued.
“Under the proposal, foreign tourists must not leave from the ‘Sandbox’ but can go anywhere in the area for their entire period of two-weeks. To make a sandbox is more difficult on the mainland than on islands. ” Pipat cautioned.
“However, some parts of the Pattaya area and five other municipalities nearby can do the ‘Sandbox’ later this year as we prepare the plan. It is absolutely critical we find a way to bring tourists back to Pattaya without quarantine and we believe many people who like to go to Pattaya will be happy to stay there for their whole trip.” Pipat said.
“This will attract more foreign tourists as the city is near Bangkok which is the main target city in Thailand for tourists after quarantine who will stay longer than two weeks.” Pipat went on.
“To be a ‘Sandbox’ we must be ready for the Covid -19 vaccine. The earliest time those foreign tourists will be able to enter the Sandbox is on July 1st if we can expedite vaccines to Pattaya.”
The Pattaya City Mayor Sonthaya Khunpluem said, “We are ready to be an area quarantine at this time. We have also suggested receiving one million doses of the Covid – 19 vaccine so we can become a sandbox.”
Under the proposal of a sandbox tourists would have no quarantine but would need to spend their entire fourteen-day period in the same area, in this case Pattaya and Banglamung. They would also have to agree to regular check-ins and tracking but officials stressed it would be non-intrusive.
Story by The Pattaya News
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