Tourism is returning to normal in Thailand, that is the information the Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) wants to send to tourists who want to know about the situation in the Land of Golden Pagodas.
According to the TAT, international visitors are not required to wear masks when entering Thailand. The color-coded quarantine system has also been completely eliminated. Tourists can go anywhere to eat, drink and have fun in this country.
The journey back from the "Phuket sandbox"
Thailand was one of the first countries in Asia to open up to tourism. The country has been constantly coming up with new initiatives to slowly bring back its smokeless industry. CNBC commented that Thailand's initial initiatives were heavy on rules and regulations, hindering the recovery of the tourism industry.
The recovery process began with the "Phuket Sandbox" model with many strict regulations. Accordingly, tourists from 66 countries and territories who have been vaccinated against Covid-19 are allowed to visit Phuket without quarantine. Visitors are required to stay on the island for 14 days in a hotel before being tested for Covid-19. The Phuket Sandbox was once considered an important milestone for the Southeast Asian tourism industry.
Thailand gradually removes restrictions, tourism returns to pre-pandemic level
The epidemic is gradually under control, the Thai government continues to implement the Test & Go program with more relaxed regulations than the "Phuket sandbox". Under this program, tourists are no longer limited to destinations like the "Phuket sandbox" but are allowed to enter many different destinations in Thailand.
The program requires vaccinated travelers to register for a Thailand Pass, a travel card to enter Thailand. Once the pass is issued, travelers then book a night at a specific hotel to await PCR test results after entry.
According to CNBC, international tourists have not responded very enthusiastically to both the "Phuket sandbox" and Test&Go programs, as both programs have too many strict regulations, hindering the travel needs of foreign visitors.
Face masks, once mandatory on Thai beaches, are no longer necessary.
Since May, the Test & Go regulations have been gradually removed. As of July 1, visitors entering Thailand only need to present a Covid-19 vaccination certificate or a negative Covid-19 test certificate. Thailand has almost completely removed restrictions, paving the way for tourism to return and is one of the leading countries in Southeast Asia in recovering the tourism industry.
Few rules, many visitors
As the restrictions eased, more international tourists began to flock to Thailand. The day after the government announced the removal of the Thailand Pass, arrivals at Phuket International Airport increased by 20%, with an estimated 9,000 people arriving, according to a report released by the Public Broadcasting Department of Thailand.
On the same day, the number of people entering Thailand at various checkpoints along the borders with Malaysia and Laos also increased.
Michael Marshall, commercial director of Thailand-based Minor Hotels, said online searches for hotel bookings have also increased since July 1.
Mae Hong Son, a tourist destination in Northern Thailand, attracts tourists with its majestic mountain beauty.
“Although it is only the first few days since all restrictions were lifted, we have 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 the Thai tourism industry,” said Michael Marshal.
Without waiting until July 1, before the rules change, Thailand's tourism industry maintains rapid growth.
According to the Thai Ministry of Tourism and Sports, the number of international visitors increased nearly fourfold from May 1 this year compared to the same period last year. More than 1.3 million foreigners visited Thailand during this period.
“We hope this momentum will continue to pave the way for a recovery in the tourism industry until the Thai government fully lifts restrictions on international visitors,” said Mr. Marshall.
According to the commercial director of Minor Hotels, the number of tourists to Phuket, Koh Samui and northern areas of Thailand has seen strong growth this year.
Thai officials predict 5 million to 15 million international visitors this year, a big recovery from the 428,000 foreign visitors who visited Thailand last year. However, the road to reaching the nearly 40 million tourist arrivals mark of 2019 is still quite a long way off, Reuters said.
