Thailand poised to adopt vaccine passports to kick-start tourism
The Nation/Asia News Network
BANGKOK — Thailand’s tourism minister has asked the Public Health Ministry for approval to launch a vaccine passport system in a bid to kick-start the tourism industry this year.
Tourism and Sports Minister Pipat Ratchakitprakarn said on Monday that the government was waiting for a World Health Organization announcement on vaccine passports before issuing the measure.
He said that adopting a vaccine passport or a similar method of enabling foreign tourists to skip quarantine would guarantee at least 5 million foreign visitors to Thailand this year.
The Centre for Covid-19 Situation Administration (CCSA) was also discussing a 14-day quarantine that would allow foreign tourists to leave their hotel rooms after just three days of self-isolation, he added. Russian tourists in Phuket will likely be the first to experience the eased quarantine restrictions. Tour agents in Russia say demand is high enough for regular Phuket flights of 300-400 Russian tourists.
The Tourism Ministry has also submitted a plan to deliver vaccines to five tourism-dependent provinces – Phuket, Surat Thani, Chon Buri, Chiang Mai and Krabi. The vaccines will be administered to staff at alternative quarantine hotels. The five provinces have a total of 58 alternative quarantine hotels, with more than 6,700 rooms and 13,000 staff.
For more news about the novel coronavirus click here.
What you need to know about Coronavirus.
For more information on COVID-19, call the DOH Hotline: (02) 86517800 local 1149/1150.
The Inquirer Foundation supports our healthcare frontliners and is still accepting cash donations to be deposited at Banco de Oro (BDO) current account #007960018860 or donate through PayMaya using this link.
