BANGKOK: A Thai holiday island reopened for locals on Saturday (May 2) as Thailand begins to ease its coronavirus prevention measures, while officials are also planning to woo rich tourists to other islands.
The island of Koh Larn in Chonburi province, around 80 kilometres south-east of Bangkok, began allowing locals to leave and enter the island on Friday since closing its borders in March.
The island's reopening was ordered by Chonburi Governor Pakarathorn Thienchai on Wednesday, but visitors are still not allowed to stay overnight.
Thailand will reopen some businesses such as restaurants, markets and sports clubs on Sunday as it reports a lower number of daily new coronavirus cases.
The government's coronavirus task force reported six new cases on Friday, the fifth consecutive day it has seen fewer than 10 new cases. It reported over 100 new cases on most days in March.
Earlier this week, Tourism Minister Pipat Ratchakitprakarn said his ministry proposes offering month-long luxury tour packages at the popular resort islands of Phuket, Samui and Pha Ngan starting in July.
Arriving tourists would have to fly directly to their destined province and stay for at least a month in a luxury setting.
"The idea is to accept high-spending tourists who wish to spend their vacation in Thailand when Thailand is virus-free," Pipat said.
Pipat said the tour package would double as a precautionary measure for the coronavirus, but other public and private sectors also have to agree to it.
Thailand has reported 2,960 coronavirus cases, with 54 deaths. - dpa
The island of Koh Larn in Chonburi province, around 80 kilometres south-east of Bangkok, began allowing locals to leave and enter the island on Friday since closing its borders in March.
The island's reopening was ordered by Chonburi Governor Pakarathorn Thienchai on Wednesday, but visitors are still not allowed to stay overnight.
Thailand will reopen some businesses such as restaurants, markets and sports clubs on Sunday as it reports a lower number of daily new coronavirus cases.
The government's coronavirus task force reported six new cases on Friday, the fifth consecutive day it has seen fewer than 10 new cases. It reported over 100 new cases on most days in March.
Earlier this week, Tourism Minister Pipat Ratchakitprakarn said his ministry proposes offering month-long luxury tour packages at the popular resort islands of Phuket, Samui and Pha Ngan starting in July.
Arriving tourists would have to fly directly to their destined province and stay for at least a month in a luxury setting.
"The idea is to accept high-spending tourists who wish to spend their vacation in Thailand when Thailand is virus-free," Pipat said.
Pipat said the tour package would double as a precautionary measure for the coronavirus, but other public and private sectors also have to agree to it.
Thailand has reported 2,960 coronavirus cases, with 54 deaths. - dpa
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