Thailand will reduce the mandatory quarantine period for foreign travelers from next month but deferred a decision on recognizing vaccine certificates for easier global mobility amid a spike in global virus cases.
A panel chaired by Prime Minister Prayuth Chan-Ocha on Friday approved shortening the quarantine to 10 days from two weeks starting April 1, Traisuree Taisaranakul, a government spokeswoman, told reporters in Bangkok. The country may stop enforcing quarantine altogether from Oct. 1 though the group delayed a decision on isolation period to seven days for vaccinated tourists as recommended by officials last week, officials said.
A shorter quarantine is expected to make Thailand — famed for its palm-fringed beaches, temples and backpacker culture — more attractive to millions of foreign tourists and is seen as a key step toward a wider reopening. Tourism-reliant Thailand’s reluctance to fully ease curbs point to the dilemma faced by authorities in balancing the need to protect people from fresh outbreaks while bolstering economic activities.
The pandemic has devastated Thailand’s tourism industry, which provided more than USD60 billion in revenue from about 40 million foreign visitors in 2019. A government campaign to boost travel by locals through hotel and air travel concessions has failed to make up for the slump in earnings.
Also see: Thailand plans to welcome travelers across 4 phases from April with relaxed quarantine rules