According to Deputy Prime Minister Somkid Jatusripitak, the government is considering easing entry restrictions for foreign visitors in the third or final quarter of this year, with priority given to those arriving from coronavirus-free areas.
He said relaxing inbound travel restrictions is the first step to kick-start the tourism industry, but the government must be cautious in screening travelers and implementing an effective tracking system to reduce the risk of a second wave of infections.
Mr Somkid said that tourists from countries or areas with Covid-19 outbreaks are likely to be the first to get the green light and that he has already discussed the matter with Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha.
"It doesn't have to be a country as a whole — we can allow visitors from cities or provinces that are free from coronavirus. Travel restrictions will be gradually eased, and in the third or fourth quarter of this year, foreign visitors are expected to return, "he says.
Next month starts the third quarter of the year.
According to Mr Somkid, stimulating local consumption and tourism are crucial to kick-start the economic recovery, particularly in view of the current sluggish imports.
The Ministry of Finance is also planning a fresh assistance program that will be carried out in the third quarter to align with the ease of travel restrictions, Mr Somkid added.
After the third phase of lockdown easing, he said local tourism is picking up but a fresh package will lure more people to travel and spend and maintain the momentum of recovery.
"We hope the kit holds the momentum running before the beginning of next year. Next year we expect to see the import sector bounce back. But if it is not, then the Ministry of Finance would have to find out how to support the people, "he added.
Meanwhile, Deputy Prime Minister Wissanu Krea-ngam has indicated the prospect of continuing the implementation of the emergency decree, which is due to expire on June 30.
Gen Prayut has appointed Mr Wissanu, who manages legal affairs, to work out which regulations or interventions should be used as a solution to fighting a second cycle of the epidemic.
He said extending the emergency decree is one of the options considered by the government to curb the risks of a second wave. He noted that the emergency decree, unlike the Communicable Disease Control Act, allows for swift action and coordination.
Without the decree, officials assigned under the Communicable Disease Control Act by the Minister of Public Health can not integrate their operations with military officers, he said. According to Mr Wissanu, the decree has made it possible for all returned overseas to smoothly
implement the 14-day mandatory quarantine program of the Government.
He said the decree allows returners to be brought to the state quarantine facility in Chon Buri's Sattahip district immediately from Suvarnabhumi airport in Samut Prakan.
"I can not imagine these kinds of operations taking place under the Communicable Disease Control Act," he said.
"The implementation of the Emergency Order can be expanded. It can also be extended and measures such as the night curfew removed, and public gatherings allowed.
Thossaporn Serirak, a leader of the Pheu Thai Faction, however, insisted the government would further ease the lockout steps and remove the emergency decree to enable citizens to return to work and earn a living.
He insisted there are other legal instruments the government can use to prevent a second wave.
Meanwhile, yesterday seven new cases of coronavirus were reported by the Center for Covid-19 Situation Administration (CCSA).
Since all cases were registered in state quarantine sites, CCSA spokesman Taweesilp Visanuyothin said this indicated that for two weeks Thailand registered zero local transmission. Of the new cases, two were on Saturday coming students from Pakistan. Four men, including an 11-
year-old girl, returned Friday from the United Arab Emirates while the others returned Thursday from the United States.
The latest cases took up Thailand 's overall number of illnesses to 3,119, with 58 fatalities. Yesterday the number of patients discharged stood at 2.973.
Dr. Taweesilp also said that on Saturdays and Sundays the CCSA would cancel press briefings as the number of new cases has continued to decline and restrictions are eased.
He will be providing updates on Mondays , Wednesdays and Fridays beginning this week, while his deputy, Dr. Panprapa Yongtrakul, will be covering Tuesdays and Thursdays.
Source Bangkok Post
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