Bangkok, 25 February, 2020 – The Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) would like to provide clarification regarding the latest move by the National Communicable Disease Committee (NCDC) to declare the Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) a dangerous contagious disease.
The declaration is a proactive measure aimed at safeguarding public health, thus further reaffirming Thailand’s strong capacities and its very strict system of monitoring and containment of the disease. This does not mean that Thailand has entered the third phase of the outbreak.
The NCDC has
made such decision to allow health authorities to effectively prevent and
control the disease. In the event of an urgent necessity, it has the authority to
close various locations and order patients or suspected patients to temporarily
cease working.
What does
this mean to tourists?
All tourism and
travel activities are continuing as per usual with stringent health
surveillance systems and stepped up hygiene measures in place.
What measures
are in place for tourists?
The Ministry of
Public Health (MoPH) is continuing to implement strict surveillance at all
points of entry including ground, sea and air. The Ministry is constantly
following the situation and is adjusting the criteria for surveillance regularly
to ensure maximum effectiveness in disease control.
All tourism-related
businesses, both in the Thai public and private sectors across the Kingdom,
have stepped up hygiene measures and are working together to combat the crisis.
TAT’s
recommendations for tourists
All incoming
visitors are advised to “travel safely” by practising daily hygiene habits: frequently
wash hands with water and soap or alcohol gel; avoid touching eyes, nose, and
mouth; strictly comply with the recommendations of “eat cooked food, use
serving spoons and wash hands”, and wear hygienic masks when in a crowded area.
While
travelling, avoid close contact with anyone with cold or flu-like symptoms,
avoid visiting crowded places, and wear a surgical mask if you have respiratory
symptoms.
TAT would like to emphasise that the Thai tourism industry will do everything possible to strictly implement preventive measures and heighten active surveillance for all tourists in Thailand to protect all from being exposed to the virus. This is consistent with the policy of the Thai tourism industry to provide and maintain quality services.
Tourists can
keep up to date with the COVID-19 situation in Thailand at the TAT Newsroom (www.tatnews.org) and the Department of
Disease Control (DDC) (https://ddc.moph.go.th/viralpneumonia/eng/index.php)
If any tourists
become sick while travelling, do seek medical care early, or contact the
Department of Disease Control Hotline 1422. For information and assistance
relating to Thailand’s tourism, contact the TAT Contact Centre 1672 or the
Tourist Police 1155.
The post Thailand declares COVID-19 a dangerous contagious disease: what it means to tourists? appeared first on TAT Newsroom.
