Covid-19 restrictions eased at airport, entertainment venues - Bangkok Post

Covid-19 restrictions eased at airport, entertainment venues

Officials in Bangkok on Tuesday began to loosen Covid-19 prevention measures, allowing transit passengers at Suvarnabhumi airport and alcohol to be served in the capital's restaurants and pubs until 11pm.

Transit passengers at Suvarnabhumi had to show fit-to-fly and Covid-free certificates, as well as health insurance documents.

"Their stay at the airport is limited to 12 hours. They will be confined to a specific area in the terminal, and not be allowed to visit shops there," said Centre for Covid-19 Situation Administration (CCSA) spokesman Dr Taweesilp Visanuyothin.

Those passengers would not have to go through Covid-19 screening but would be required to wear face masks, sanitise their hands and observe social distancing while waiting for connecting flights, he said.

Dr Taweesilp also said that visiting yacht owners had asked to be allowed to quarantine aboard their boats for 14 days, instead of having to stay on the boat for 14 days, then face another 14-day quarantine on land after disembarking.

They said the proposal, if accepted, would stimulate interest in visiting Thailand.

"Yacht crews and their passengers might even be allowed to swim in the sea during their quarantine period," said Dr Taweesilp.

"The disease can't be transmitted in sea water."

Dr Taweesilp said the CCSA would decide soon on whether to change the quarantine rules for yacht owners and passengers.

A spokesman for the Bangkok Metropolitan Administration (BMA), Pongsakorn Kwanmuang on Tuesday said that City Hall had agreed that entertainment venues, pubs, bars, karaoke shops and soapy massage parlours should be allowed to resume normal opening hours.

The BMA's relaxed measures came into effect on Tuesday.

Those establishments must observe two-metre social distancing and provide entry registration offline or online via the Thai Chana or Mor Chana apps, Pol Capt Pongsakorn said.

Entertainment venues, meanwhile, must prohibit standing customers.

Gymnasiums and fitness centres are allowed to operate as normal, he added, with group exercise classes led by instructors.

Stadiums are allowed to stage events, albeit with limited spectators.

Convention centres and wedding venues are allowed to reopen but with a limit of 300 people each.

If the number of participants exceeds 300, the facilities must ask for permission in advance from a Bangkok district office. 

Jab arrivals signal new dawn - Bangkok Post

Jab arrivals signal new dawn

Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha speaks to reporters after the cabinet's meeting at Government House on Tuesday. (Screenshot)

The first 317,000 doses of Covid-19 vaccines from Sinovac and AstraZeneca will arrive in Thailand on Wednesday, with 200,000 of them to be distributed to the 13 provinces considered to be the highest-risk zones.

The provinces with the highest infection rates are Samut Sakhon (a Covid-19 maximum and strict control zone) and eight provinces designated as Covid-19 control zones: Bangkok (western), Pathum Thani, Nonthaburi, Samut Prakan, Tak (Mae Sot district), Nakhon Pathom, Samut Songkhram and Ratchaburi.

Also prioritised are four provinces of economic significance: Chon Buri, Phuket, Surat Thani (including Koh Samui) and Chiang Mai.

The doses arriving in Thailand are from two manufacturers -- 117,000 from British-Swedish multinational AstraZeneca and an unspecified number from Chinese firm Sinovac.

Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha's Facebook page said the first 200,000 doses from Sinovac will be given to priority groups within three days.

Deputy Prime Minister and Public Health Minister Anutin Charnvirakul said the process could have been even faster. "Had there not been any drama, the vaccines would have arrived sooner," he said.

He did not explain precisely what he meant but Progressive Movement founder Thanathorn Juangroongruangkit had earlier criticised the government's vaccine plan. The opposition Move Forward Party also brought up the issue during the no-confidence debate last week.

Wednesday's shipment of the AstraZeneca vaccine has come as a surprise since there had been no mention before of that version being imported.

It transpires that the director of the National Vaccine Institute procured the AstraZeneca vaccine.

The first Covid-19 jab to be administered in Thailand will be given to the PM and it will be the AstraZeneca version, Mr Anutin declared.

"It's important that Gen Prayut takes the first Covid-19 vaccine shot because he is the country's leader. There will naturally be a risk assessment process by the Department of Disease Control, which is an internationally accepted standard procedure," said Mr Anutin, who is also a deputy prime minister.

"Gen Prayut will receive the vaccine that has no age restrictions -- AstraZeneca."

A Government House source said Gen Prayut was scheduled to be vaccinated at Bamrasnaradura Infectious Disease Institute on Saturday.

Mr Anutin apparently wanted to clear up any confusion caused on Monday, when Gen Prayut declared he would take the first shot to boost public confidence in the vaccine.

A doctor later warned the first batch of vaccines to arrive in Thailand Wednesday, the Chinese-made Sinovac, had been tested only on 18-59-year-olds and its efficacy and side effects were not known in other age groups.

Since Gen Prayut is 67, that vaccine would seem to be unsuitable for him. He will be able to perform his duties normally after having his shot.

The intervals between first and second jabs are 14-28 days for Sinovac and six weeks for AstraZeneca.

The vaccination will initially take place at medical facilities, where people will have to wait 30 minutes after taking the shots so they can be monitored for any side effects.

The first lot of vaccines to arrive were originally due to be 200,000 doses of Sinovac Wednesday, followed by 800,000 doses in March and 1 million more in April.

The rest of the vaccines for Thais in 2021 will be AstraZeneca's, made locally by Siam Bioscience, with 26 million doses to be available from May to June and another 35 million doses afterwards, according to Gen Prayut's Facebook page.

Speaking after Tuesday's cabinet meeting, the PM pointed out that the Covid-19 vaccines belonged to Thais nationwide, not the prime minister.

The vaccines that will arrive Wednesday will be registered by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) first, he pointed out.

Gen Prayut was hopeful Wednesday's arrival heralded an upturn for Thailand's fortunes.

"Vaccines will play a part in helping the tourism industry and business operations to recover," he said. "Those who receive vaccines and have certificates may also be allowed to enter the country without quarantine, though they will have to be tracked just in case of any problems." 

Thailand mulls waiving quarantine for vaccinated tourists - Bangkok Post

Thailand mulls waiving quarantine for vaccinated tourists

An empty beach in Phuket in late January this year. (Photo by Achadthaya Chuenniran)

Thailand may scrap its two-week mandatory quarantine for foreign visitors with proof of Covid-19 vaccination as the Southeast Asian nation seeks to revive its pandemic-hit tourism industry.

Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha said on Tuesday his government will consider allowing visitors who can produce a vaccination certificate to skip the quarantine and authorities will come up with a plan to track them during their stay in the country.

The plan to ease rules for tourists signal a shift in Thailand's stance after months of insisting all visitors must stay in quarantine in the absence of enough evidence that inoculations can prevent virus transmission. If implemented, the move could bolster Thailand's tourism sector that contributed about one-fifth to the nation's pre-pandemic economy.

"If this goes ahead as planned, it will be a big boost to tourism and economy," Nattaporn Triratanasirikul, an economist at Kasikorn Research Center in Bangkok, said adding the government may need to weigh health concerns too. "There is still a very high uncertainty on the economic outlook this year, pending all the issues related to the outbreak from local infections, vaccine rollouts and border reopening plan."

The central bank has singled out an uncertain recovery in tourist arrivals as "a major risk" to the medium-term growth outlook, with governor Sethaput Suthiwartnarueput saying it would be very difficult for the economy to return to pre-pandemic levels without tourism.

The economy, which shrank the most since 1998 last year, will expand this year "at somewhat a lower rate" than the central bank's December projection of 3.2%, it said this month.

While Thailand has reopened its borders to most foreign visitors since October, strict quarantine rules have kept most tourists away. The local industry has been calling for relaxed quarantine rules to attract tourists from countries that have started vaccine rollouts, such as China, Singapore and the UK.

Shares of Thai hotel and restaurant operators and Airports of Thailand Pcl gained on Tuesday as investors cheered the relaxation of restrictions that were put in place to curb a flare-up in new infections and the approval for vaccine made by Sinovac Biotech Ltd.

Thailand is set to receive its first doses of vaccines on Wednesday that will allow it start a national inoculation programme within a week.

Thailand, which aims to inoculate 50% of its population by the end of this year, has also approved AstraZeneca's vaccine for emergency use. The nation has ordered 61 million doses of AstraZeneca vaccine, to be locally produced by Siam Bioscience through technology transfer.

The country will eventually allow registration and imports of several brands of Covid-19 vaccines as long as they meet local rules, and private hospitals will be permitted to administer the shots, Gen Prayut said. The government will control the distribution of vaccines only in the early stages, he said.

"Many companies have shown interest to register but their documents are not completed yet," Gen Prayut said. "It is good that we will have more vaccines than the 65 million doses planned by the government now."



Thailand further relaxes COVID-19 control measures from 22 February 2021 - TAT Newsroom

Thailand further relaxes COVID-19 control measures from 22 February 2021

The ongoing improvement in the COVID-19 situation in the country justifies relaxing restrictions

TAT Newsroom

Bangkok, 23 February, 2021 – The Tourism Authority of Thailand would like to provide the latest update regarding the Royal Thai Government's announcement on further relaxing the COVID-19 control restrictions in more provinces.

Effective from 22 February, 2021, the government has adjusted the classification of formerly five areas to currently four areas in line with the improvement in the COVID-19 situation in the country.

The surveillance (green) areas now increase from 35 to 54 provinces, the high surveillance (yellow) areas decrease from 17 to 14 provinces, and the controlled (orange) areas down from 20 to eight provinces, while Samut Sakhon remains the maximum controlled (dark red) area.

Surveillance areas (54 provinces, including 19 newly-classified): (region by region) Central: Ang Thong, Chai Nat, Lop Buri, Nakhon Sawan, Phetchabun, Sing Buri, and Uthai Thani; East: Chanthaburi, Prachin Buri, Sa Kaeo, and Trat; North: Chiang Mai, Chiang Rai, Kamphaeng Phet, Lampang, Lamphun, Mae Hong Son, Nan, Phayao, Phichit, Phitsanulok, Phrae, Sukhothai, and Uttaradit; Northeast: Amnat Charoen, Bueng Kan, Buri Ram, Chaiyaphum, Kalasin, Khon Kaen, Loei, Maha Sarakham, Mukdahan, Nakhon Phanom, Nakhon Ratchasima, Nong Bua Lamphu, Nong Khai, Roi Et, Sakon Nakhon, Si Sa Ket, Surin, Ubon Ratchathani, Udon Thani, and Yasothon, and South: Krabi, Nakhon Si Thammarat, Pattani, Phang Nga, Phatthalung, Phuket, Prachuap Khiri Khan, Satun, Surat Thani, and Trang.

Surveillance areas

Reopening with strict disease control measures allowed for:  √ Entertainment venues of all types, including pubs, bars, and karaoke shops can resume normal operation hours in accordance with the relevant laws, including dining-in and the sale and consumption of alcoholic drinks. Music performances and dancing are also allowed.  √ Restaurants and eateries can resume normal operations.  √ Screening in place for Thai travellers, especially those from the maximum and high controlled areas.  √ Bath and massage parlours, but with a limited number of customers.  √ Spas and Thai traditional massage shops, but with a limited number of customers.  √ Indoor and outdoor gyms and fitness centres and boxing stadiums. Competitions can be organised with a number of audiences in accordance with the rules and regulations.

Closure orders remain in place for:  X Gambling venues of all types, including fighting cock and bull venues.

High surveillance areas (14 provinces, down from 17): (region by region) Central: Ayutthaya, Nakhon Nayok, Saraburi, and Suphan Buri; East:Chachoengsao, Chon Buri, and Rayong; South: Chumphon, Narathiwat, Ranong, Songkhla, and Yala, and West: Kanchanaburi, and Phetchaburi.

High surveillance areas

Reopening with strict disease control measures allowed for:  √ Entertainment venues of all types including pubs, bars and karaoke shops, but dining-in and the sale and consumption of alcoholic drinks must stop at 24.00 Hrs.  √ Restaurants and eateries, but dining-in and sales and consumption of alcoholic beverages must end at 24.00 Hrs.  √ Shopping malls, department stores, community malls, supermarkets and convenience marts can resume normal operating hours, but crowd activities are prohibited.  √ Screening in place for Thai travellers, especially those from the maximum and high controlled areas.  √ Bath and massage parlours, but with a limited number of customers.  √ Spas and Thai traditional massage shops, but with a limited number of customers.  √ Indoor and outdoor gyms and fitness centres and boxing stadiums. Competitions can be organised with a number of audiences in accordance with the rules and regulations.

Closure orders remain in place for:  X Gambling venues of all types, including fighting cock and bull venues.

Controlled areas (eight provinces, down from 20): (region by region) Central: Bangkok, Nakhon Pathom, Nonthaburi, Pathum Thani, Samut Prakan, Samut Songkhram, and West: Ratchaburi, and Tak.

Controlled areas

Reopening with strict disease control measures allowed for:  √ Entertainment venues of all types including pubs, bars and karaoke shops, but dining-in and the sale and consumption of alcoholic drinks must stop at 23.00 Hrs. Music performances are allowed, but dancing is prohibited.  √ Restaurants and eateries, but sales and consumption of alcoholic beverages must end at 23.00 Hrs.  √ Shopping malls, department stores, community malls, supermarkets and convenience marts can resume normal operating hours, but crowd activities are prohibited.  √ Screening in place for Thai travellers, especially those from the maximum and high controlled areas.  √ Bath and massage parlours, but with a limited number of customers.  √ Spas and Thai traditional massage shops, but with a limited number of customers.  √ Indoor gyms and fitness centres and boxing stadiums. Competitions can be organised with a limited number of audiences.

Closure orders remain in place for:  X Gambling venues of all types, including fighting cock and bull venues.

Maximum controlled area (1 province): Samut Sakhon remains classified under this area.

Reopening with strict disease control measures allowed for:  √ Markets and flea markets.  √ Restaurants and eateries, but must close at 21.00 Hrs., and no alcoholic drinks.  √ Shopping centres and department stores, but must close at 21.00 Hrs.  √ Nurseries and elderly care centres for residents.  √ Hotels with visitor contact tracing systems.

Closure orders remain in place for:  X Entertainment venues of all types including pubs, bars and karaoke shops.  X Boxing stadiums and indoor fitness clubs.  X Fighting cock-bull-fish venues and similar racetracks and amulet centres.  X Bath and massage parlours, spas, and Thai traditional massage shops.  X Educational institutions of all levels.  X Playgrounds, amusement parks, game arcades and Internet shops.  X Meeting and banquet activities and venues, cultural events with mass gathering, and trade fairs.  X Public transport terminals.

TAT is constantly providing updates on the tourism-related COVID-19 situation in Thailand at the TAT Newsroom (www.tatnews.org); Facebook (tatnews.org); and Twitter (Tatnews_Org).

For additional information and assistance relating to Thailand's tourism, contact the TAT Contact Centre 1672 or Tourist Police 1155.

23/2

 

Thai govt outlines 8-step process for people to receive COVID-19 vaccinations - Thai Visa

Thai govt outlines 8-step process for people to receive COVID-19 vaccinations

 

Image: Reuters

 

The Thai government on Tuesday outlined an eight-step process for registration and vaccination at hospitals in the country.

 

The Ministry of Public Health (MOPHJ) said that by detailing what is required will help Thai people to "understand the process and be able to cooperate with medical personnel".

 

Upon arrival at hospital, anyone receiving the vaccine will be required to follow these eight steps:

 

   1.  Card registration;

   2.  Personal weight and height measuring;

   3.  Timeline screening, risk assessment, and signing the agreement for receiving the vaccine;

   4.  Waiting to get the vaccination shot;

   5.  Getting the COVID-19 shot;

   6.  Observing symptoms for around 30 minutes, and Line official scanning on "Mor Prom";

   7.  Getting guideline documents for practice after getting the vaccine;

   8.  Getting health assessment for after-effects and risk assessment, and following up after getting vaccination with "Dash Board" and Line official account.

 

The MOPH said everyone who has received the vaccine will be contacted after 7 and 30 days via the 'Mor Prom' Line  account. An appointment will also be arranged to receive a second dose of the vaccination.

 

 

The Thai government earlier confirmed that first it will begin its first rollout of the vaccine  to frontline health care workers later this week. 

 

The vaccine to be used will be the Chinese made Sinovac Biotech, which was granted approval from Thailand's Food and Drug Administration (FDA).

 

Thailand has also ordered 26 million coronavirus vaccine doses from AstraZeneca, and reserved a further 35 million doses from the company. 

 

These vaccines will be used in the country's mass vaccination campaign from June.

 

Between April and June, Thailand will vaccinate those deemed most at risk.

 

Last week, officials confirmed that expats in Thailand will also be included in the vaccination campaign. While exact details of how and when the vaccine will be administered to foreigners has not yet been released, it is likely that this will also begin from June.

 

Private hospitals have also been given the greenlight to procure their own doses of the vaccine, providing the vaccines are FDA approved. 

 

 

 

Vaccin plan för Thailand - PRD

 

TAT expects to welcome vaccinated tourists in third quarter - The Nation

TAT expects to welcome vaccinated tourists in third quarter

Feb 23. 2021

The Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) has been working on a plan to encourage tourists to return to Thailand from the third quarter of 2021, waiting for more relaxation of measures by the Centre for Covid-19 Situation Administration (CCSA).

TAT Governor Yuthasak Supasorn said that all TAT foreign offices have been assigned to monitor and inform the progress of Covid-19 vaccination every two weeks, including country opening guidelines in each country so that the TAT can set its own guidelines to attract this group of tourists.

"We have always been focused on the demand for foreign tourists after the Covid-19 crisis made it impossible to travel internationally. Some markets have already reserved travel packages in advance. Thailand travel packages are receiving goid attention, such as in the Chinese market. A decision is awaited from the Chinese government to allow tourists to leave the country," said Yuthasak.

Chattan Kunchorn na Ayudhya, deputy governor for International Marketing (Asia and the South Pacific) at TAT, added that they have been adapting plans for tourists to meet their demand. For example, there were 41 South Korean tourists who arrived for golf quarantine on February 18, as the temperature in South Korea is now very cold at minus 6 degrees Celsius.

Meanwhile, the Mumbai and New Delhi office has informed that there are Indian tourists inquiring about having weddings in Thailand with a closed hotel. A special event of two groups, 200-300 people, usually spent at least Bt10 million. Although there is no exact period for entering, they have requested the CCSA to approve making a hotel an "Area Quarantine" and close the hotel for the specific purpose.

"The CCSA has provided guidelines for the Ministry of Public Health on:

1. Plan for people who have already been vaccinated individually or from the country of origin, but Thailand has not been vaccinated;

2. People who have been vaccinated from the country of origin where the vaccination is widely available, but Thailand has not yet been vaccinated and,

3. Both the country of origin and Thailand has had widespread vaccination.

"All of which have to be summarised in detail as soon as possible," said Chattan.

TAT deputy governor for Europe, Africa, the Middle East and the Americas, Siripakorn Cheawsamoot, said the International Air Transport Association, which has a membership of more than 200 airlines around the world, now has 42 airlines including Thai Airways, Thai Smile, Qatar Airways, Etihad Airways, British Airways, Emirates Airways and others agreeing to an "IATA Travel Pass" for registered travellers who confirm their vaccination.

The vaccinated travellers will be given the privilege, except from health check and Fit-To-Fly paper, which will begin in March and will likely see more and more vaccinated travellers on board.

He said the government needed to make a clear statement on relaxation for tourists from foreign countries, so that the TAT can create plans to lure travellers to visit in the third quarter of this year, as it usually takes around four months to finalise the plan.



Thailand’s airports prepare for ‘return of foreigners’ - Bangkok Jack

Thailand's airports prepare for 'return of foreigners'

February 23, 2021

The Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) is welcoming the current upgrading projects at several of Thailand's airports, which are underway now in anticipation of an expected resurgence in international arrivals starting in 2021.

The Department of Airports, Ministry of Transport, is accelerating the 2021 investment of five billion Baht allocated for the upgrading, most of which is for increasing runway lengths.

In the South, Trang Airport will have its runway extended from 2,200 to 2,990 metres at a cost of 1.8 billion Baht.

Meanwhile, Surat Thani International Airport will have its runway reinforced and an apron expanded to handle five aircraft, from currently three, for a budget of 800 million Baht.

The new Betong Airport in Thailand's southernmost province of Yala – bordering Malaysia – is scheduled to open for operations in the next few months.

Approved for construction in 2015 to promote tourism and attract investment to the border town, the airport is expected to serve up to 300,000 passengers annually.

In the Northeast, Buriram Airport's runway will be lengthened from 2,100 to 2,900 metres at the cost of 950 million Baht, while an apron will also be expanded.

In addition, Khon Kaen Airport is planning on runway improvement and apron extension from five to 12 aircraft.

In Bangkok, the new Satellite Terminal 1 (SAT-1) extension to Suvarnabhumi Airport, managed by the Airports of Thailand, is over 95 per cent complete.

The new building is part of a 62 billion Baht expansion plan that was approved in 2011, which will boost its annual capacity by 15 million passengers.

A final readiness test on the SAT-1 and its systems is scheduled for completion in April 2022. – Hua Hin Today



Pattaya mayor hits back against online critics - Pattaya Mail

Jag förstår honom 100%. 👍👍👏👏

Pattaya mayor hits back against online critics

Pattaya MailFebruary 23, 2021

Mayor Sontaya Kunplome was extremely annoyed for being accused of caring more for Bangsaen Beach than Pattaya claiming he is doing so much for this city.

Pattaya's mayor hit back against online criticism that he cares more about Bangsaen, where he lives, than Pattaya, which has become a "ghost town" under his watch.

An angry Sonthaya Kunplome trotted out the usual Thai-government response to critics, threatening to prosecute the administrator of the "Pattaya Future" Facebook page for "fake information" Feb. 22, claiming page posts damaged the reputation of Pattaya and himself.



In a lengthy post, the Pattaya Future page compared Pattaya with Bangsaen, posting photos of a teeming Bangsaen Beach Road against the empty streets of Pattaya, saying Bangsaen is where Sonthaya calls home, "but Pattaya is where he makes his money".

Bangsaen long has been the base of the Kunplome family that has had a decades-long stranglehold on Chonburi politics and Sonthaya's youngest brother is the mayor there.

A bird's eye view shows Bangsaen beach packed with cars and tourists during the weekend.

The anonymous critic called out protracted roadworks in Pattaya, claiming similar jobs in Bangsaen are "finished in one operation".

Sonthaya hit back, pointing out that 95 percent of the 3 million tourists who visit Bangsaen each year are Thai while half of Pattaya's tourists are foreign visitors. Sonthaya claimed Pattaya attracted 15 million visitors in 2019 of which 10 million were foreigners.

The Tourism Authority of Thailand says half, not two-thirds, were foreigners.

In either case, Sonthaya's point that Pattaya attracts more Thais than Bangsaen rings true and he listed numerous steps being taken to make the city more attractive to domestic tourists, including expanding parking at Lan Po Market and widening roads to create more parking.

Sonthaya said he has lived in Pattaya and done more for the city than "nitpickers" who only criticize.

While Pattaya and Jomtien beaches are practically deserted since the new year.

Beach umbrellas and deck chairs operators gradually went out of business because of a lack of tourists.

TAT wants vaccine passport policy - Bangkok Post

TAT wants vaccine passport policy

Empty chairs are seen on a beach in Phuket, normally a tourist magnet. Achadthaya Chuenniran

Thailand should have a clear-cut plan on a vaccine passport by June if plans to reopen the international market by the fourth quarter are kept, according to the Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT).

Siripakorn Cheawsamoot, TAT deputy governor for Europe, Africa, the Middle East and the Americas, said the government policy would have a tremendous effect towards international market plans, particularly on the long-haul market, which is progressing rapidly in terms of mass vaccination programmes.

The opinions of overseas agents and recent surveys in key markets showed tourists are ready to be inoculated or participate within a vaccine passport policy if this would allow them to travel abroad once again, he said.

"TAT plans to bring back international tourists by the fourth quarter but that will depend largely on our policy development too," Mr Siripakorn said.

In order to achieve the target, the country should start soft launches in two phases -- marketing campaigns launched before the third quarter, followed by the introduction of an area quarantine policy within the third quarter, he said.

The two phases have started to take shape as the first batch of arrivals landed in Phuket and went into "villa quarantine" on Feb 21. This quarantine concept is similar to the area quarantine proposal.

He said Qatar Airways requested the relaxation of the 14-day quarantine at beach destinations during the third quarter. The airline is ready to operate international flights to Phuket if Thailand loosens mandatory quarantine by March.

But the policy on vaccinated tourists is seen as a more critical condition as the survey TAT conducted among 4,127 British people found that 75% agreed to be inoculated if it became a mandatory requirement among destination countries.

However, 41% of them disagreed with inoculation if a quarantine policy remained in place.

A similar result showed up in a survey among Finnish people as 99% said vaccines were important in relation to traveling abroad, while 68% indicated they would not take any trips if a country still had a mandatory quarantine policy.

"Those surveys clearly told us that the government must accelerate a concrete plan for a vaccine passport by June in order to receive inoculated tourists, or else we could miss a huge opportunity as some countries have already started quarantine-free programme for vaccinated travellers," said Mr Siripakorn.

He said many long-haul markets still rate Thailand as the preferred destination, with 62% of the Finnish people surveyed would choose Thailand as their ideal destination in the winter.

A group of 20 Finnish tourists who booked inbound trips under the golf quarantine scheme this month postponed their plans due to uncertainties over the quarantine period in the first 3-5 days of arriving.

The TAT's London office also introduced the Linger Longer campaign under which 60 packages were sold. Buyers plan to visit the country during the Easter holidays.

Chattan Kunjara Na Ayudhya, TAT deputy governor of marketing for Asia and South Pacific, said the short-haul market also purchased holiday packages in advance.

TAT's offices in Mumbai and New Delhi reported that there are two groups of 200-300 Indians who want to hold wedding ceremonies in Thailand at beach hotels. Each group is expected to spend at least 10 million baht.

Last week, the country welcomed the first group of 41 Koreans into golf quarantine at Artitaya Golf and Resort in Nakhon Nayok.