Thailand makes plan to revive tourism once COVID-19 declared endemic
The Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) is preparing a plan to relax travel rules in line with the timeline to declare COVID-19 an endemic disease on July 1, local media reported.
Visitors to a pagoda in Chiang Mai, Thailand (Photo: AFP/VNA)
Bangkok (VNA) - The Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) is preparing aplan to relax travel rules in line with the timeline to declare COVID-19 anendemic disease on July 1, local media reported.
TAT governorYuthasak Supasorn said the tourism goals for revenue and arrivals this yearmight be downgraded because of surging oil prices and inflation caused by theRussia - Ukraine conflict.
He said theplan to label COVID-19 endemic from the second half of the year will lead tofurther relaxations, including the termination of Thailand Pass, marking amilestone for the industry.
The officialheld that Thailand should adopt safety procedures and learn lessons from othercountries that have already opened up to ensure it remains competitive inluring international tourists.
Keysource markets include India, which has an air travel bubble agreement withThailand, as well as Southeast Asian countries like Vietnam, which plans tofully reopen from March 15. Malaysia agreed to reopen its land border withThailand on April 1.
TATwants to closely monitor the Russia - Ukraine conflict as it has triggeredsoaring oil prices, which directly affect airline costs. The authority willwait until the end of this month before providing a new tourism forecast forthis year, according to the official.
Meanwhile,the domestic market requires reassessment as local tourists may continue totravel, but for fewer days and with minimal spending because of higher oilprices and inflation.
Yuthasak affirmed thattourism is still a key engine to revive Thailand’s economy, even though revenuewas stymied by negative factors.
This year’stourism revenue goal is 1.28 trillion THB (38.45 billion USD), of which 626billion THB is to come from 10 million international tourists and another 656billion THB from 160 million domestic trips.
Before the pandemic,tourism contributed 3 trillion THB to the Thai economy in 2019, making up 18percent of the gross domestic product (GDP). That consisted of 2 trillion THBfrom foreign tourists (12 percent of GDP) and 1 trillion THB from domestic ones(6 percent)./.
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Visitors to a pagoda in Chiang Mai, Thailand (Photo: AFP/VNA) 
