Association of Thai Travel Agents urges Thai government to revoke state quarantine from low risk countries to draw at least 100,000 tourists in December

PHOTO: MICE in Thailand

Bangkok –

Association of Thai Travel Agents (ATTA) proposed an idea to the Thai government to welcome foreign tourists from countries with very low Covid-19 cases without performing a 14-day state quarantine to engage more tourists and boost the tourism industry, starting this December.

ATTA president Vichit Prakobkoson told the Associated Press yesterday, September 30, that the Thai government should allow tourists from countries with low Covid-19 cases for more than 60 days, such as China, Taiwan, Australia, or New Zealand, to visit the country without a state quarantine since the idea of quarantine repulses them from visiting.

The quarantine can be replaced with stronger health measures and limited travel regulations such as requirements to travel only through travel agencies and limitation of traveling areas that the authorities could monitor and be able to follow up, the president suggested.

Vichit told reporters: “The government should challenge and revoke the state quarantine, if possible, by this December for certain countries. If so, approximately 100,000 foreigners a month would travel to Thailand and might stay for 5 to 7 days.”

“The revocation would also create traveling attention from visitors around the world and generate significant income jn baht and from possibly this coming New Year until next year’s Chinese New Year.”

Moreover, the estimated number of 1,200 travelers/month under the Special Tourist Visa (STV) this October is not enough, according to the ATTA, to revive the tourism industry across the country.

More closures of hotels, restaurants, nightclubs, and other tourist attractions in popular tourism destinations such as Phuket, Samui, Pattaya, and Chiang Mai was likely to occur again if the government did not increase the limited number of tourists or remove the 14-days state quarantine, Vichit concluded.

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Nop Meechukhun
National News Writer at The Pattaya News from September 2020 to October, 2022. Born and raised in Bangkok, Nop enjoys telling stories of her hometown through her words and pictures. Her educational experience in the United States and her passion for journalism have shaped her genuine interests in society, politics, education, culture, and art.