The government's attempt to reopen Phuket as a model to invite international tourists back has been delayed after the country saw the first case of local Covid-19 infection in more than three months.
Yuthasak Supasorn, governor of Thailand's Tourism Authority (TAT), said the implementation of the so-called "Phuket model," planned for next month as part of attempts to boost the local economy, is likely to be moved back.
He said TAT officials visit Phuket this weekend to address disease prevention initiatives with business owners, adding that the latest plan to bring back international visitors will need to be changed in case the country experiences a second wave of the Corona pandemic outbreak.
Around 200 tourists from Australia and New Zealand were permitted to get in under the Phuket scheme, proposed by the Ministry of Tourism and Sports. However, in their country of origin, they would first screen negative for the virus and live in quarantine for 14 days at specified locations in Phuket.
Visitors will be allowed to travel inside the province area if Covid-19 tests negative. Although if they wish to enter other provinces, they would need to live under quarantine for another seven days under their respective areas.
Mr. Yuthasak also said domestic travel succeeded less than hoped during the four-day weekend, with hotel occupancy reported at 30 percent and estimated expenditure at around 8.8 billion baht. Since July, however, he said tourism activities have been picking up.
Source" Bangkok Post
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