A 2012 filephoto shows Chinese tourists at the Grand Palace in Bangkok
PETALING JAYA: Thailand has proposed to charge health and travel insurance on foreign tourists to ease the financial burden on its state hospitals.
Thailand’s Public Health Ministry on June 26 made the proposal at a meeting with representatives from the Airports of Thailand (AoT), the Royal Thai Police and various other government ministries.
Malaysian travel agencies welcomed the proposal to impose health and travel insurance on tourists although many of them were not aware of the proposal.
Deraz Travels and Tours Sdn Bhd manager Mohammad Imran said that it should be a good move by the Thai government.
“Travel insurance is a must for every tourist. I’ve advised my customers to take up travel insurance before they embark to another country.
“The Thai government must be doing this for security purposes and I laud such a move,” said Imran.
A source within the industry feels it may be unfair to the customers.
“Some of the customers buy travel insurance from us and if the government implements the travel insurance in the near future, customers might have to pay twice for separate insurance schemes,” she said.
Many tour agencies recommend that their customers take up travel insurance when they travel overseas especially to Europe and Asia.
According to the Bangkok Post, the ministry called a meeting with state agencies in January after the Cabinet wanted to set up a health care system for foreigners.
The government was concerned about the financial burden on the country’s state hospitals who provide free medical services to foreign tourists.
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