Operators want sandbox scheme to include Bangkok

Travel deals are offered at a fair in Bangkok. Somchai Poomlard
Travel deals are offered at a fair in Bangkok. Somchai Poomlard

Bangkok should be included in October's isolated-environment scheme that allows vaccinated visitors to enter without quarantine, say tourism operators.

Vichit Prakobgosol, vice-president of the Tourism Council of Thailand (TCT), said Bangkok is a strategic tourism hub as 90% of tourists who visit Pattaya have to start from the capital.

In addition to Phuket, which is slated to reopen first on July 1, five destinations are to follow in October: Krabi, Phangnga, Koh Samui, Pattaya and Chiang Mai.

TCT predicted the number of tourists visiting those six destinations to total 3 million, contributing 156 billion baht, of which 2 million tourists generating 105 billion will come from Phuket.

He said if Bangkok can welcome inoculated tourists, another 3 million will be added to the tally, bringing it closer to the goal of 6.5 million. However, this forecast depends on the vaccination pace in Bangkok, said Mr Vichit.

"The government has to announce bilateral agreements on travel bubbles with low-risk areas such as China, Hong Kong, Singapore or South Korea, and roll out vaccine certificates by April to let operators prepare business in advance," he said.

Chamnan Srisawat, the TCT president, said the government must continue supporting the domestic market while waiting for reopening. A TCT survey found unemployment in the tourism industry rose by 411,840 to 1.45 million.

The government plans to allow Songkran celebrations to go ahead without tight travel restrictions. The Tourism Authority of Thailand estimates the six-day holiday (April 10-15) will lead to 3.2 million trips generating 12 billion baht.

Vocabulary

  • bilateral: involving two groups or countries - สองข้าง, เกี่ยวกับกลุ่มทางการเมืองสองกลุ่ม
  • forecast: a statement about what will happen in the future based on information available now - การพยากรณ์, การคาดการณ์
  • generate: to produce - ก่อให้เกิด
  • inoculate: to treat a person or animal with a vaccine to produce immunity against a disease -
  • 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
  • restriction: a rule, action or situation that limits or controls someone or something - การจำกัด, การควบคุม
  • sandbox (noun): an isolated environment or situation. -
  • scheme: a plan that is developed by a government or large organisation in order to provide a particular service for people - แผนการ โครงการ
  • slate: to plan that something will happen at a particular time in the future - วางแผนสำหรับสิ่งที่จะเกิดขึ้นในาในอนาคต
  • strategic (adj): involving strategy and planning; important for achieving a particular goal, especially in war, business, or politics - ทางยุทธศาสตร์
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