Ministry wants tourist arrivals by October

Travellers seen at Don Muang airport in Bangkok in September
Travellers seen at Don Muang airport in Bangkok in September

The Tourism Ministry has pledged to bring the first batch of international tourists to Thailand by October, with Bangkok as the primary destination.

"Tour operators can start promoting long-stay packages via the special tourist visa (STV) to potential customers now," said Tourism and Sports Minister Phiphat Ratchakitprakarn.

The most important thing is for tourists to provide all required documents regarding their itinerary to officials, including payment for alternative state quarantine (ASQ) or alternative local state quarantine (ALSQ) facility, post-quarantine accommodation, chartered flights or private jet bookings, Covid-free certificate, and travel and health insurance.

After the Foreign Ministry approves all documents, it will issue a certificate of eligibility (COE) and STV to tourists to let them continue with travel plans.

 

"If the visa process can be completed in time, tourists can visit the country by Oct 1," Mr Phiphat said.

Bangkok is where the first visitors will undergo 14-day quarantine, as the city provides sufficient ASQ facilities.

During the first stage of reopening, international flights will be limited to three flights a week with 100 tourists per flight or 1,200 tourists per month, according to the Centre for Covid-19 Situation Administration.

Many travellers have already showed intention to re-enter Thailand, Mr Phiphat said.

"If operations in the first month run smoothly without another outbreak, we aim to increase capacity in the next phase," he said.

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Vocabulary

  • capacity: the amount of something that can be produced - ความสามารถในการ (ผลิต)
  • document: a paper or set of papers with written or printed information, especially of an official type  - เอกสาร
  • eligibility (noun): the condition of being able to have or do something because you have the right qualifications, are the right age, etc - การมีสิทธิเข้ารับเลือก, ความมีสิทธิ์จะได้รับเลือก, ความเหมาะสม
  • insurance: an arrangement in which you regularly pay an insurance company an amount of money so that they will give you money if something you own is damaged, lost, or stolen, or if you die or are ill or injured - การประกัน
  • intention: a plan in your mind to do something - ความตั้งใจ เจตนา แผนการ
  • itinerary: a plan of a journey that you are going to make, including information about when and where you will travel - แผนการการเดินทาง
  • package: many goods or services sold together in one "package" -
  • potential: possible in the future - ที่อาจเป็นไปได้
  • promote: to encourage or support something - สนับสนุน
  • quarantine (noun): a situation in which a person or animal that might have a disease is kept separate from other people or animals so that they do not catch the disease - การกักบริเวณ, การจำกัดบริเวณ
  • sufficient: enough - เพียงพอ

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