Bangkok welcomes first tourists for quarantine-free holiday | The Business Standard
Skip to main content
  • Home
  • Economy
    • Aviation
    • Bazaar
    • Budget
    • Industry
    • NBR
    • RMG
    • Corporates
  • Stocks
  • Analysis
  • World+Biz
  • Sports
  • Features
    • Book Review
    • Brands
    • Earth
    • Explorer
    • Fact Check
    • Family
    • Food
    • Game Reviews
    • Good Practices
    • Habitat
    • Humour
    • In Focus
    • Luxury
    • Mode
    • Panorama
    • Pursuit
    • Wealth
    • Wellbeing
    • Wheels
  • Epaper
    • GOVT. Ad
  • More
    • Subscribe
    • Videos
    • TBS Graduates
    • Thoughts
    • Splash
    • Bangladesh
    • Supplement
    • Infograph
    • Archive
    • COVID-19
    • Long Read
    • Interviews
    • Offbeat
    • Tech
    • Magazine
  • বাংলা
The Business Standard

Wednesday
September 27, 2023

Sign In
Subscribe
  • Home
  • Economy
    • Aviation
    • Bazaar
    • Budget
    • Industry
    • NBR
    • RMG
    • Corporates
  • Stocks
  • Analysis
  • World+Biz
  • Sports
  • Features
    • Book Review
    • Brands
    • Earth
    • Explorer
    • Fact Check
    • Family
    • Food
    • Game Reviews
    • Good Practices
    • Habitat
    • Humour
    • In Focus
    • Luxury
    • Mode
    • Panorama
    • Pursuit
    • Wealth
    • Wellbeing
    • Wheels
  • Epaper
    • GOVT. Ad
  • More
    • Subscribe
    • Videos
    • TBS Graduates
    • Thoughts
    • Splash
    • Bangladesh
    • Supplement
    • Infograph
    • Archive
    • COVID-19
    • Long Read
    • Interviews
    • Offbeat
    • Tech
    • Magazine
  • বাংলা
WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 27, 2023
Bangkok welcomes first tourists for quarantine-free holiday

World+Biz

Reuters
01 November, 2021, 11:50 am
Last modified: 01 November, 2021, 11:52 am

Related News

  • Polls: Movement restrictions in some parts of Gulshan, Banani areas on 17 July
  • Import and export through Bhomra port suspended for five days during Eid
  • 8 places to visit during Eid holidays
  • China to cut quarantine for overseas travelers from next month
  • UK to declare bank holiday May 8 to honor King Charles III

Bangkok welcomes first tourists for quarantine-free holiday

Thailand, one of the Asia-Pacific's most popular tourist destinations, has for the past 18 months enforced strict pandemic entry rules that have been criticised in the travel industry for being too restrictive and onerous

Reuters
01 November, 2021, 11:50 am
Last modified: 01 November, 2021, 11:52 am
First group of foreign tourists arrive at Suvarnabhumi Airport during the first day of the country's reopening campaign, part of the government's plan to jump start the pandemic-hit tourism sector in Bangkok, Thailand November 1, 2021. Photo :Reuters
First group of foreign tourists arrive at Suvarnabhumi Airport during the first day of the country's reopening campaign, part of the government's plan to jump start the pandemic-hit tourism sector in Bangkok, Thailand November 1, 2021. Photo :Reuters

Hundreds of vaccinated foreign tourists are scheduled to arrive in Bangkok on Monday, the first wave of visitors to Thailand in 18 months who will not have to undergo quarantine for the coronavirus.

Seeking to resurrect its pandemic-ravaged tourism economy, Thailand's government has given the green light to vaccinated tourists from more than 60 countries, including the United States and China.

Several European countries are also on the list as officials hope to capitalise on travellers from the northern hemisphere escaping the winter blues.

Thailand, one of the Asia-Pacific's most popular tourist destinations, has for the past 18 months enforced strict pandemic entry rules that have been criticised in the travel industry for being too restrictive and onerous.

Before the pandemic, tourism accounted for about 12% of Thailand's GDP and its capital city was the world's most visited city. The crisis has cost Thailand about 3 million tourism-dependent jobs and an estimated $50 billion a year in revenue.

Thai officials tested the waters with the reopening of the resort island of Phuket in July, allowing fully-vaccinated tourists to skip the then-mandatory two-week quarantine provided they stay on the island, where tourism accounts for 90% of the local economy.

However, the "Phuket Sandbox" was less popular than officials had hoped, with arrivals to the island in July at just 1% of pre-pandemic levels.

Under the new national programme, arrivals must spend their first night in a pre-approved hotel and receive a negative Covid-19 test before they are able to travel freely to rest of the country.

Airlines have rushed to ready the country for the hoped influx of visitors, bringing jets back from hibernation. Still, the return will be relatively slow. The finance ministry predicts just 180,000 foreign arrivals this year and 7 million next year, compared with some 40 million in 2019.

The majority of Thailand's 1.9 million infections and more than 19,000 coronavirus-related fatalities have been recorded since April. Around 42% of the 72 million population has been vaccinated.

Top News

Bangkok airport / Quarantine / holiday

Comments

While most comments will be posted if they are on-topic and not abusive, moderation decisions are subjective. Published comments are readers’ own views and The Business Standard does not endorse any of the readers’ comments.

Top Stories

  • Power price, subsidy to rise as govt has to pay producers at latest dollar rate
    Power price, subsidy to rise as govt has to pay producers at latest dollar rate
  • Photo: BSS
    BB formulates digital payment policies with quick refund, penalty provisions
  • Obaidul Quader speaking at a peace and development rally arranged by the Dhaka District Awami League in Keraniganj this afternoon (26 September), protesting terrorism, militancy, anarchy, ill-politics and anti-state conspiracy of the BNP and Jamaat. Photo: Collected
    Sheikh Hasina cannot be stopped through visa policy, sanctions: Quader at rally

MOST VIEWED

  • US dollar banknotes are seen in this illustration taken on 10 March 2023. Photo: Reuters
    Taka weakens even further
  • The Fitch Ratings logo is seen at their offices at Canary Wharf financial district in London,Britain, March 3, 2016. REUTERS/Reinhard Krause
    Fitch now rates Bangladesh's foreign debt outlook negative
  • Experts say Dhaka has at least 18 times more than the population it can actually support. Photo: Rajib Dhar
    DAP relaxes floor area ratio, planners raise concerns over Dhaka's livability
  • Dollar rates raised to Tk110 for remitters, exporters
    Dollar rates raised to Tk110 for remitters, exporters
  • Why Biman struggles to overcome pilot shortage
    Why Biman struggles to overcome pilot shortage
  • Record Bangladeshis hired in Italy this year, $800m sent home
    Record Bangladeshis hired in Italy this year, $800m sent home

Related News

  • Polls: Movement restrictions in some parts of Gulshan, Banani areas on 17 July
  • Import and export through Bhomra port suspended for five days during Eid
  • 8 places to visit during Eid holidays
  • China to cut quarantine for overseas travelers from next month
  • UK to declare bank holiday May 8 to honor King Charles III

Features

India-Canada clash should be a wakeup call

India-Canada clash should be a wakeup call

21h | Panorama
It is highly unlikely that inflation rate is going to come down soon. PHOTO: TBS

No more central bank loans to the govt: Will it be enough to curb inflation?

21h | Panorama
Why Bangladeshi patients flock to India

Why Bangladeshi patients flock to India

22h | Panorama
Nooruddin Complex: Of childhood, dreams and a sense of community

Nooruddin Complex: Of childhood, dreams and a sense of community

22h | Habitat

More Videos from TBS

How dependent is Canada's economy on India?

How dependent is Canada's economy on India?

11h | TBS World
IMEC; Is the main objective to stop China?

IMEC; Is the main objective to stop China?

10h | TBS World
Why Biman struggles to overcome pilot shortage

Why Biman struggles to overcome pilot shortage

14h | TBS Insight
Global Finance's report card: Bangladesh Bank governor got ‘D’

Global Finance's report card: Bangladesh Bank governor got ‘D’

13h | TBS Stories
EMAIL US
[email protected]
FOLLOW US
WHATSAPP
+880 1847416158
The Business Standard
  • About Us
  • Contact us
  • Sitemap
  • Privacy Policy
  • Comment Policy
Copyright © 2023
The Business Standard All rights reserved
Technical Partner: RSI Lab

Contact Us

The Business Standard

Main Office -4/A, Eskaton Garden, Dhaka- 1000

Phone: +8801847 416158 - 59

Send Opinion articles to - [email protected]

For advertisement- [email protected]