THE Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) is to propose to the Centre for Covid-19 Situation Administration’s (CCSA’s) smaller committee today (Sept. 22) that the reopening of Bangkok and four provinces to fully vaccinated tourists be postponed to November 1, Siam Rath newspaper said. The earlier target was to reopen Bangkok and Chiang Mai’s Mueang, Mae Rim, Mae Taeng and Doi Tao districts; Chonburi’s Pattaya City and Bang Lamung, and Sattahip districts; Phetchaburi’s Cha-am district; and Prachuap Khiri Khan’s Hua Hin district on October 1. Thai Newsroom

Reopening of Bangkok to vaccinated tourists being put off to Nov. 1

September 22, 2021 TNR Staff

THE Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) is to propose to the Centre for Covid-19 Situation Administration's (CCSA's) smaller committee today (Sept. 22) that the reopening of Bangkok and four provinces to fully vaccinated tourists be postponed to November 1, Siam Rath newspaper said.

The earlier target was to reopen Bangkok and Chiang Mai's Mueang, Mae Rim, Mae Taeng and Doi Tao districts; Chonburi's Pattaya City and Bang Lamung, and Sattahip districts; Phetchaburi's Cha-am district; and Prachuap Khiri Khan's Hua Hin district on October 1. 

TAT Governor Mr. Yuthasak Supasorn said the postponement is to allow for reaching the target of fully vaccinating 70% of residents against Covid-19 in these zones.

Another issue is that the outlook of the Covid-19 outbreak in the country is still uncertain with the Public Health Ministry's working group agreeing to put off opening the door to fully vaccinated tourists by another month.

"TAT is not concerned about this postponement. This is because it would be better if all areas had better vaccination rates. Investigation shows that there are still many places waiting for the allotment of large lots of vaccines. 

"In addition, during the month of October there will be a programme to stimulate the domestic market such as phase three of We Travel Together  and Tour Tiew Thai which should help boost liquidity for entrepreneurs to a certain extent," he said.

Mr. Thanesuan Petchsuwan, TAT's deputy governor for marketing communications, said Chiang Mai has already adjusted its plans and in the first phase will not let tourists fly in directly with only those participating in Phuket's 7+7 programme allowed to come in after staying on the island for the first seven days. 

Moreover domestic tourism gets underway in October so entrepreneurs are pinning their hopes on the domestic market.

Meanwhile the Public Health Ministry said there were 11,252 Covid cases and 141 deaths over the past 24 hours with 11,224 being among the general public and 28 in prisons and detention centres.

This takes the cumulative confirmed total since April 1 to 1,482,494 while another 13,695 patients were discharged from hospital.

Today's 141 fatalities raises the death toll since April 1 to 15,659.