Visit In March 2020, the Thai government decided to close the Kingdom's borders completely. to protect against the possible spread of the Covid virus. By closing the borders, the government was deliberately taking the risk of depriving the kingdom of its biggest resource: tourism.
In 2019, the tourism and travel sector brought in 106.5 billion dollars to Thailand, i.e. more than 20% of its GDP. The spending by foreigners in the country was around 20% volume of exports... And yet, at the time, the government was adamant that Thailand had to move away from this overly large dependence on tourism.
A vision certainly tinged with arrogance. Because the disappearance of 40 million foreign tourists has proved to be a veritable cataclysm. 18 months after the start of the pandemic, it is clear that the country's economy is in its death throes. Unemployment is rising sharply, despite the fact that people working in tourism are not included. Experts estimate thatn 2021, growth is unlikely to exceed 1%. This is the fourth downward revision to the Kingdom's growth outlook.
A vaccination too late and too slow has further delayed the opening of borders, with a sharp increase in cases of covid since mid-April.
This leaves only one solution: to reopen the country as quickly as possible. The authorities have developed a four-stage plan which will restore hope to the population, restart the economic machine and also finally satisfy the millions of travellers eager to return to the Kingdom. For the moment, experts estimate that the Kingdom could welcome only 380,000 tourists throughout 2021. A figure equivalent to what tourism was around 1960!
The return of foreign tourists is becoming urgent
The condition is to achieve a complete vaccination rate of 70% of the population. We're still a long way from that. According to the Oxford University barometer of vaccination rates by country, 42% of Thais had received a first dose of vaccine and 23% had completed their vaccination cycle by 27 September.. Phuket, which reopened to tourists under strict conditions in July, has higher vaccination coverage than Bangkok (see graph). Reopening plans for six provinces to vaccinated travellers, have been postponed until 15 October, with the exception of Krabi in the south. Krabi will be welcoming international tourists this weekend.
For the other five provinces, which include Bangkok, the northern city of Chiang Mai and the seaside resorts of Pattaya and Hua Hinthe possibility of returning without quarantine should begin on 1st November. According to Yuthasal Supasorn, Governor of the Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT), the date appears to be confirmed for the time being.
Vaccinated tourists should not a 7-day period of isolation in a hotel of their choice, plus two on-site PCR tests. Until now, this period has been around 14 days. Visit non-vaccinated would be forced to quarantine for between 10 and 14 days. depending on the mode of transport. Around twenty other provinces will then reopen on 15 November and 1 December.
One problem remains, however: the very high cost of PCR tests charged at 200 euros in Thailand, as well as theThe acquisition of Covid insurance covering expenses equivalent to US$100,000$. These two factors explain the relative failure of Phuket's reopening to international tourism. Only 33,000 people had taken advantage of this offer by the end of September.
However, Bangkok is expected to attract more travellers, including business travellers and MICE organisers who are keen on the Thai metropolis.. Much of the city will be back to normal from 1 October, with all the cafés, bars, cinemas, theatres and conference venues reopening.
