TAT file photo for reference only
An interview between Thailand's tourism minister Pipat Ratchakitprakan and the Thai media has poured cold water on plans for quarantine to be scrapped.
And it could be next year's hot season - March at the earliest - before there are any major changes allowing mass tourism.
It looks as though the STV scheme for long term stay is the best there is for now.
PPTV 36 reported that Thai hoteliers and others in the tourism sector had been calling on the government to ditch quarantine and create so-called travel bubble with provinces in China where there had been no Covid for 150 days.
Relationships with countries like Singapore, Vietnam, South Korea and Taiwan in this regard have also been mooted.
But Pipat told the media this was all on hold. He mentioned the concerns of Thailand's prime minister Prayuth Chan-ocha who advised caution.
The country will thus continue with opening to businessmen, technical experts, high level workers and those in the medical field for now.
Pipat said that 14 day quarantine would continue for now with many countries still in the grip of the pandemic.
Even China, according to the minister, is advising caution and has suggested waiting until the hot season next year.
Resurgences of the virus in China this month during cooler weather have added to the feeling of caution.
The needs for locals in Thailand to be considered is also paramount.
This comment seemed to pander to the concerns of those worried about the spread of the virus rather than doing anything dynamic to solve the economic woes associated with the downturn in tourism, notes Thai visa.
The PPTV report also quoted Tourism Authority of Thailand marketer Thanet Petchsuwan as agreeing with the minister and suggesting that measures like the special tourist visa - with all its hoops and restrictions - would be the only way to visit Thailand for the foreseeable future.
Source: PPTV
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