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Tourism is returning to normal in Thailand, that's the information the Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) wants to share with tourists who want to know about the situation in the Land of Smiles.
According to TAT, international visitors are not required to wear masks when entering Thailand. The color-coded quarantine zone system has also been completely abolished. Tourists can go anywhere to eat, drink, and have fun in the country.
The journey back from the "Phuket sandbox"
Thailand was one of the first countries in Asia to reopen for tourism. The country has continuously implemented new initiatives to gradually revive its tourism industry. CNBC noted that Thailand's initial initiatives were heavily reliant on regulations and rules, significantly hindering the recovery of the tourism sector.
The recovery process began with the "Phuket Sandbox" model, which included strict regulations. Under this model, tourists from 66 countries and territories who had been vaccinated against Covid-19 were allowed to enter Phuket without quarantine. Visitors were required to stay on the island for 14 days in a hotel before being tested for Covid-19. The Phuket Sandbox was once considered a significant milestone for Southeast Asian tourism.
Thailand is gradually lifting restrictions, and tourism is returning to pre-pandemic levels.
As the pandemic gradually came under control, the Thai government continued to implement the Test&Go program with more relaxed regulations compared to the "Phuket sandbox." Under this program, tourists were no longer restricted to specific destinations like in the "Phuket sandbox" but were allowed to enter Thailand through many different destinations.
The program requires vaccinated visitors to register for a Thailand Pass – a travel permit to enter Thailand. After receiving the pass, visitors must book a one-night stay at a specific hotel while awaiting the results of their PCR test upon arrival.
According to CNBC, international tourists have reacted unenthusiastically to both the "Phuket sandbox" program and Test&Go, as both programs have too many strict regulations that hinder the travel needs of foreign visitors.
Face masks, once mandatory at Thai beaches, are no longer required.
Since May, the regulations under Test&Go have gradually been lifted. On July 1st, tourists entering Thailand only needed to present a Covid-19 vaccination certificate or a negative Covid-19 test result. Thailand has almost completely removed restrictions, paving the way for tourism to resume and is one of the leading countries in Southeast Asia in terms of tourism recovery.
Fewer rules, more tourists.
As soon as the restrictions were lifted, international tourists paid more attention to Thailand. A day after the government announced the removal of the Thailand Pass, the number of visitors to Phuket International Airport increased by 20%, with an estimated 9,000 people, according to a report published by the Thai Public Media Agency.
On the same day, the number of people crossing into Thailand at various checkpoints along the border with Malaysia and Laos also increased.
Michael Marshall, Commercial Director of Minor Hotels, based in Thailand, said that the number of online searches for hotel bookings has also increased, starting from July 1st.
Mae Hong Son, a tourist destination in northern Thailand, attracts visitors with its majestic mountain scenery.
“Although it’s only been a few days since all restrictions were lifted, we’ve already seen nearly 10,000 new searches on the hotel website. Travelers are coming from different markets. This is a positive sign for the future of Thailand’s tourism industry,” said Michael Marshal.
Even before July 1st, when the rules changed, Thailand's tourism industry maintained rapid growth.
According to Thailand's Ministry of Tourism and Sports, the number of international visitors has nearly quadrupled since May 1st this year compared to the same period last year. More than 1.3 million foreigners have visited Thailand during this time.
"We hope this momentum will continue to lay the groundwork for the recovery of the tourism industry until the Thai government completely lifts restrictions on international tourists," Marshall stated.
According to the commercial director of Minor Hotels, the number of tourists visiting Phuket, Koh Samui, and other areas in northern Thailand has seen strong growth this year.
Thai officials predict between 5 million and 15 million international tourists will visit the country this year, a significant recovery from the 428,000 foreign visitors last year. However, the path to reaching the nearly 40 million tourist mark of 2019 is still quite long, Reuters reports.
