Tourists on Khao San street in Bangkok, Thailand, on March 6 (Photo: AFP/VNA)Hanoi (VNA) – Thailand is planning to reopen itsborders to tourists from countries which have comparably low coronavirusinfections as it is striving to revitalise the pandemic-hit tourism industry.
The country closed its borders at the start ofApril, leading to millions of job losses across this sector.
Despite registering the first COVID-19 caseoutside of China in January, Thailand has recorded just more than 3,130 infectionswith 58 deaths so far.
Given the low figures, tourism officials arehoping to lure back visitors from regional countries where the disease has beencontrolled well, including China, Vietnam, the Republic of Korea, Australia andNew Zealand.
Taweesin Visanuyothin, spokesman for the ThaiGovernment’s Centre for COVID-19 Situation Administration, told the mediarecently that the so-called “travel bubbles” will allow people from countrieswho have the same level of virus to visit without the mandatory 14-dayquarantine.
He said travellers will need to have completed"health checks" before and after arrival as well as valid medicalinsurance. However, he did not give a date for the selective reopening, addingthat talks over coming days between health and tourism officials will outlinethe next steps.
Taweesin noted his country is targeting sportstourists like golfers because they stay in certain areas and have limitedcontact with locals, as well as businessmen and medical tourists.
Tourism, which accounts for around 20 percent ofThailand’s GDP, is predicted to suffer from revenue losses of up to 47 billionUSD this year as arrivals may drop to 14 million from 40 million last year,according to a recent HSBC Global Research note./.
VNA
