Taweesilp Visanuyothin, a spokesman for the CCSA, said the proposal for the Thailand-India Air Travel Bubble (ATB) would bring more convenience to passengers traveling between the two countries, as the pandemic situation remains tense and there are still some restrictions in place to prevent the spread of the disease.
Airlines and ticket agents, along with Covid-19 control authorities, will play an important role in this bilateral tourism promotion campaign.
Once approved by the CCSA, the proposal for a travel bubble with India will be submitted to the Thai Cabinet for approval. According to a CCSA spokesperson, Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha has instructed relevant agencies to quickly implement the ATB as soon as possible. The ATB will be implemented with strict Covid-19 prevention measures.
India is Thailand's third largest tourism market. Photo: Reuters
According to the Ministry of Tourism and Sports of Thailand, about 1.9 million Indian tourists visited Thailand in 2019, up 25% from the previous year. Each Indian tourist stayed in Thailand for an average of seven days and spent about 44,700 baht (about $1,400).
The Thai government also hopes to start talks on travel bubbles with China and Malaysia this month. Thailand reopened its quarantine-free program for international visitors in early February, but arrivals, especially from India and China, remain low.
