Thailand is seeking ways to shorten the 14-day quarantine for foreign tourists to attract more arrivals as the country opens up.
The Public Health Ministry has instructed the Disease Control Department (DCD) to plan appropriate quarantine periods.
Kiattiphum Wongrajit, ministry permanent secretary, said on Wednesday that the country is mulling shorter quarantine periods to encourage more foreign tourists.
Thailand is desperate to relaunch its tourist industry to boost an economy shrinking fast under the impact of COVID-19. The country is currently open to certain groups of Thais and foreigners (diplomats, businesspeople, etc) but all face mandatory 14-day quarantine.
Thailand’s Cabinet has approved a special tourist visa (STV) for long-staying visitors (90 days) in a bid to revive the tourism sector in Thailand.
Under the STV scheme, long-staying visitors can stay in the country for 90 days, which can be extended twice, each for a further 90 days.
The STV will be granted to long-staying visitors who comply with Thailand’s COVID-19 control and preventive measures. They will be required to undergo a 14-day alternative local state quarantine (ALSQ) upon their arrival.
The DCD has been tasked with estimating the effectiveness of different quarantine periods in preventing the spread of COVID-19. Given that the baseline of 14 days…
