Public Health Minister Anutin Charnvirakul has again said that any new Covid-related measures in Thailand will not discriminate against travellers from any country, including China.

He made the comment ahead of the announcement of measures that would apply to visitors arriving from Covid-plagued China and from other countries.

“Relevant officials agree to give the same treatment to visitors from all countries and health measures will not discriminate against visitors from any particular country,” Mr Anutin said on Wednesday.

The Thai health system, he said, was ready to cope with emergency situations as only 5.2% of hospital beds were now occupied by Covid-19 patients.

Among the possible measures that authorities might adopt on Thursday could be a requirement for visitors to show proof of at least two doses of Covid-19 vaccines as well as health insurance.

Mr Anutin expects about 300,000 Chinese visitors to arrive in the first quarter of this year, representing about five percent of all visitors for the period. Prior to the pandemic, Chinese arrivals accounted for more than one-quarter of the country’s 40 million foreign tourists.

“There will be 60,000 (Chinese) visitors in January, 90,000 in February and 150,000 in March,” said the minister. “Their number will rise gradually because (currently) there are limited flights, it will take time to seek passports and visas and the Chinese government has not allowed tour firms to organise outbound groups of tourists yet.”

Mr Anutin also said the local Covid situation was improving.