Thailand's Tourism Industry on the Brink of Collapse... Exploring Strategies to Attract Tourists
[Asia Economy Reporter Lim Chun-han] Thailand is actively seeking incentives to revive its tourism industry, which is on the brink of collapse due to the COVID-19 crisis.
According to local media on the 7th, the Ministry of Tourism and Sports recently proposed a new quarantine measure to the government’s COVID-19 Situation Administration Center (CCSA). Called Alternative Hotel Quarantine (AHQ), this measure allows guests to leave their hotel rooms after the first three days if they test negative for COVID-19 during the 14-day quarantine period. However, they are still not allowed to leave the hotel building. This is expected to somewhat alleviate complaints from those quarantined who must remain confined to their rooms.
Currently, during the 14-day quarantine, guests are not allowed to leave their hotel rooms at all, or only allowed to leave for a set time each day for activities such as walking. Meals are delivered to the door by hotel staff. The Ministry of Tourism and Sports aims to implement AHQ first in five provinces most frequented by tourists in Thailand: Chiang Mai, Phuket, Krabi, Surat Thani, and Chonburi.
A source told the media that AHQ is part of Thailand’s plan to reopen its tourism gates starting next month. The source added that depending on the stabilization of COVID-19, the Thai government may implement a 'Travel Bubble' with certain countries in May, following AHQ.
A Travel Bubble refers to a safety zone formed between countries with excellent quarantine measures, exempting travelers from self-isolation and allowing free travel. The source also mentioned that plans are being considered to exempt vaccinated individuals from the 14-day quarantine in the future.
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Earlier, to attract tourists, the Thai government launched a 'Golf Quarantine' program on the 18th of last month. Tourists under Golf Quarantine must stay in their golf resort rooms for the first three days, but if they test negative for COVID-19, they can play golf from the following day. Since the 21st of last month, a 'Villa Quarantine' program has also been underway at one resort, where tourists quarantine for 14 days within a villa. Compared to hotel quarantine, this program offers relatively more freedom of movement.
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