Thailand continues to offer "quarantine on cruise ships" packages.

In addition to quarantine at golf resorts, tourists visiting Thailand now have the option of quarantining on a private yacht for two weeks. The Thai government expects this new initiative to generate 1.8 billion baht (US$58 million) for the country's tourism industry.

Thailand is a country heavily reliant on tourism. Therefore, last year's lockdown aimed at curbing the spread of Covid-19 severely impacted its tourism industry. The Covid-19 pandemic caused a sharp decline in tourist numbers to Thailand, from 40,000 to 50,000 visitors per day to just a few hundred per day.

Under the cruise ship quarantine program, passengers who test negative for Covid-19 (upon arrival at the airport) will be allowed to breathe fresh air on the deck of a cruise ship located approximately 10 km off the coast of Phuket. During their quarantine, passengers must wear a health tracking bracelet provided by Thai health authorities to monitor their heart rate, blood pressure, and body temperature. This device also includes a GPS tracking system. After the quarantine period ends, health authorities will analyze the data, and if eligible, the cruise ship will be allowed to dock in Phuket.

The Thai Ministry of Tourism anticipates that this program could attract more than 100 cruise ships and between 300 and 500 tourists in 2021.

Thailand has been gradually welcoming tourists back since October 2020. Earlier this month, the Thai Minister of Tourism announced a plan to quarantine tourists at popular tourist destinations, including beach resorts. This resort quarantine plan is expected to be implemented in April or May in provinces with popular destinations such as Phuket, Krabi, and Chiang Mai.

Ha Le