BANGKOK, Aug 27 (The Nation Thailand/ANN): Prime Minister Prayut Chan-O-Cha has announced that he is in talks with state agencies on how to open the country to foreign tourists after the Covid-19 situation improves.
Being discussed are the timing for reopening and which provinces will be the first to open for foreign tourists.
The first phase may only see a small number of tourists allowed into the country and their areas of possible travel limited, he added.
The Thai Hotel Association (THA) recently urged the government to reopen the country to foreigners, as hotels struggle with near-zero occupancy rates and some small operators are forced to close.
THA chairwoman Marisa Sukosol Nunbhakdi said the government should focus on specific countries or cities and come up with promotions to bring back tourists.
Meanwhile, Commerce Minister Jurin Laksanawisit said Thailand is focusing on online trade and boosting border trade.
The ministry's public-private committee will meet next week to seeks ways to boost exports and border trade volume.
Thai Airways International Plc (THAI) also announced that it is ready to arrange special direct charter flights from six countries to Phuket under the government’s plan to revive the subdued tourism sector, said acting president Chansin Treenuchagron.
The six countries are Denmark, Germany, the United Kingdom, South Korea, Japan and Hong Kong.
The airline can make two flights per month on each of these routes, Chansin said. THAI is expected to begin these special flights in late November.
The airline will even increase the flights on these routes if it sees rising demand, he said. It is also expected to make special charter flights from China to Phuket.
Chansin said THAI has given utmost importance to the security and health of passengers on all these routes.
Tourism businesses have asked the government to open up the country to some groups of foreigners to help boost the struggling sector, which is suffering from the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic. - The Nation Thailand/Asian News Network
Being discussed are the timing for reopening and which provinces will be the first to open for foreign tourists.
The first phase may only see a small number of tourists allowed into the country and their areas of possible travel limited, he added.
The Thai Hotel Association (THA) recently urged the government to reopen the country to foreigners, as hotels struggle with near-zero occupancy rates and some small operators are forced to close.
THA chairwoman Marisa Sukosol Nunbhakdi said the government should focus on specific countries or cities and come up with promotions to bring back tourists.
Meanwhile, Commerce Minister Jurin Laksanawisit said Thailand is focusing on online trade and boosting border trade.
The ministry's public-private committee will meet next week to seeks ways to boost exports and border trade volume.
Thai Airways International Plc (THAI) also announced that it is ready to arrange special direct charter flights from six countries to Phuket under the government’s plan to revive the subdued tourism sector, said acting president Chansin Treenuchagron.
The six countries are Denmark, Germany, the United Kingdom, South Korea, Japan and Hong Kong.
The airline can make two flights per month on each of these routes, Chansin said. THAI is expected to begin these special flights in late November.
The airline will even increase the flights on these routes if it sees rising demand, he said. It is also expected to make special charter flights from China to Phuket.
Chansin said THAI has given utmost importance to the security and health of passengers on all these routes.
Tourism businesses have asked the government to open up the country to some groups of foreigners to help boost the struggling sector, which is suffering from the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic. - The Nation Thailand/Asian News Network
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