Tourism minister confirms: NO QUARANTINE in TEN provinces come October 1st. Thai Visa



Picture: Daily News

 

Thailand's tourism and sports minister has stood up in parliament to pledge that foreign tourists will not need to quarantine when visiting Thailand from October 1st.

 

It applies to ten tourism provinces that in the past provided the bulk of revenue from tourists. 

 

Pipat Ratchakitprakan was addressing lawmakers as part of the budget debate, reported Daily News.

 

He began with some rhetoric about following Thai PM Prayut Chan-o-cha's "20 year battle plan" by developing tourism places with such things as "home lodge" and "home stay".

 

Then he outlined the challenges that the Covid-19 pandemic had presented but stressed that his ministry and his colleagues at the Tourism Authority of Thailand had not let the grass grow under their feet. 

 

Then came the nitty gritty. Unfortunately there was absolutely nothing new in what he had to say, notes Thaivisa. 

 

He talked about the "Phuket Sandbox" a trial non-quarantine project for foreign visitors to the southern Thai island. 

 

This will start on July 1st and come after 70% of people on the island are vaccinated by the end of this month, said the minister.

 

In October comes the opening of the country under similar arrangements in a total of ten provinces. 

 

He mentioned Bangkok, Chiang Mai, Krabi, Phangnga, and of course Phuket. 

 

Daily News gave no explanation for leaving out Pattaya (or Chonburi province) though this has always been part of the plan along with Surat Thani's islands of Samui, Koh Tao and Koh Phangan. 

 

Pipat rounded off his address by referring to the securing of various loans by his ministry.