The government has set a clear timeline for the opening of the country on October 1, 2021, which will open the country for foreigners to come to Thailand freely. Do not have to be confined at all It is estimated that in the fourth quarter (October – December 2021) this year there are likely people who have been vaccinated against COVID-19. The number is high enough
But from the effects of the COVID-19 outbreak That the private sector has been affected since the first round, early 2020 until now
The operator then chorused that If you have to wait until October Which takes another 6-7 months, it should not be able to live together Because during the period before the month to open the country Still do not see any positive factors to support the tourism atmosphere in the country To be able to recover some better
Ministry of Tourism and Sports Led by the Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT), it has created several models for foreigners. Gradually entered the country before such as Area Quarantine Villa Quarantine And sandbox
Especially the “sandbox” that is a new model at this time. This will be a matching between the travel countries. Or Travel Bubble (Travel Bubble) that came out during the previous year. But may come out too quickly Therefore not getting enough support
But now I believe that there is more preparedness and need to do so. By matching the trips between them Will be a between city-to-city format Choose a city with a large percentage of the total population of the population in that province.
It is known as a city with high security and low risk.
Including selecting a province or area to support these foreigners Must be related to the number of vaccines that the population in that area Get a preliminary assessment There is a high possibility. To start this model with the Chinese tourist market first Because there is a need (demand) to visit Thailand In a consistently high number The Ministry of Tourism will bring a sandbox model. Proposed to the meeting of the COVID-19 Situation Center (SABC) to consider the principles and details on March 19. For further approval The principle of the sandbox in opening it to foreigners is There will be no detention. No matter how many days but It will be allowed to travel in the provinces that are designated to support it.
But will not allow to travel outside the said area or province To prevent the risk of spreading the virus that may occur. The Ministry of Tourism expects to begin using the sandbox model in July with a pilot in Phuket first.
Under the condition, 70% of the total population must be vaccinated in the area. Or equivalent to 900,000 doses for 450,000 people
The Ministry of Tourism met with the Ministry of Public Health (Ministry of Public Health) about requesting vaccines for the population of the three Andaman provinces totaling 3 million doses before the government allowed foreign tourists to travel to Thailand without detention from the date of 1 October onwards
According to the timeline announced by the government Initially received a good response. But still need to consider and approve again
In addition, the concept of using the sandbox model was also adopted. Discuss with government and private representatives on the Andaman Sea, including Phuket, Krabi, Phang Nga and Surat Thani. Since it is considered a province that generates a total income of up to 6 hundred billion baht, accounting for 1 in 5 of the total income of Thai tourism in 2019, which generated a total income of 3 trillion baht from the income of each province that supports tourists. Foreign is a staple that has lost more than 100% in the past. Affecting the overall economy Since the tourism sector consumes a large percentage of income in gross domestic product or GDP, Thailand is a large employment-related business sector. To be able to generate tourism income to support Thailand’s GDP growth by 4%, it is necessary to find a model for foreign exposure first in the near term through various government programs. To gradually open the country This is to create an overall tourism atmosphere to recover in the period before the full opening of the country is defined. Or is it to stimulate the emotions in the first place Because from the current state assessment there is still a lot of uncertainty. Therefore seeing that if European and American tourists cannot be drawn during the high winter season later this year May have to wait up to a year, causing the Ministry of Tourism and TAT to manage risks during the low season this summer. By gradually pulling tourists in first through the sandbox model. Entering the current target areas in 6 provinces: Phuket, Krabi, Phang Nga, Surat Thani, Chiang Mai and Chonburi to create a good atmosphere and energy to the end of the year. Which is the peak period (peak) in foreign tourism, in fact Opening the country to foreigners Despite the clear opening schedule But that doesn’t mean After opening this October There will be foreigners coming in all of a sudden, suddenly overflowing. It is necessary to create an atmosphere that is conducive and relaxed for all foreigners. And people in the country themselves have confidence as well that once opened There will be no duplicate outbreaks.
The Ministry of Tourism still has a target for total tourism income this year at 1.2 trillion baht.
If foreign exposure can be achieved according to the existing models, it will push the total income to reach the exact target.
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