Thai hotels urge government to further relax entry rules as arrivals lag
BANGKOK (Reuters) – Thailand’s prime hoteliers on Tuesday urged the federal government to simplify entry guidelines to assist alongside an in any other case sluggish restoration of one of many nation’s highest incomes sectors.
Thailand has been forward of its Southeast Asian neighbours in easing entry guidelines, after imposing strict quarantine and entry necessities for greater than a 12 months.
It began a calibrated reopening to vaccinated vacationers from July final 12 months with two island “sandbox” programmes as pilot tasks, earlier than totally reopening in November, when guests have been required to take exams on arrival.
This helped increase January arrivals to almost 134,000 from about 7,700 in 2021, a 12 months when complete arrivals have been lower than 0.5% of the pre-pandemic figures.
However trade members stated extra have to be accomplished if Thailand needs to draw the form of numbers that made it one of many world’s most visited international locations.
“The principles are too difficult,” stated Invoice Heinecke, chairman of Minor Worldwide Pcl, which operates motels in Thailand, Australia, the Maldives and in Europe.
“We’re not going to regain the primary spot again by making up our personal guidelines on learn how to deal with vacationers,” he instructed a Bangkok tourism discussion board.
Thailand in 2019 had a file 40 million arrivals, when tourism accounted for about 12% of its financial system.
However the pandemic-battered sector continues to flounder even because the nation reopens. The state-planning company expects simply 5.5 million arrivals this 12 months.
In a programme referred to as “Check and Go” https://www.tatnews.org/2022/02/thailand-reopening-exemption-from-quarantine-test-go, Thailand permits vaccinated travellers who’ve sought prior entry approval to minimise quarantine to only one evening.
They have to current a destructive pre-departure check, proof of vaccination, lodge bookings and COVID-19 insurance coverage protection of $20,000, and take two extra exams after arrival.
Companies are involved travellers will go for international locations with simpler entry guidelines.
“We’re behind different Asian international locations who’re capable of tackle barely extra threat,” stated Hilton Accommodations and Resorts, senior vp, Clarence Tan.
A authorities spokesperson didn’t instantly reply to a request for remark.
Greater than 70% of individuals in Thailand have been vaccinated towards COVID-19.
(Reporting by Chayut Setboonsarng; Enhancing by Kanupriya Kapoor)
