Thailand launches special epidemic prevention and isolation model to attract foreign tourists

Report by : Gan Yung Chyan, KUCINTA SETIA

In order to attract foreign tourists during the covid epidemic and reduce the loss of tourism as a pillar industry, the Thai government and tourism departments have recently launched new measures to introduce different isolation models according to regional characteristics, including "island villa isolation", "golf isolation", and "yacht isolation". etc., and strive to allow tourists to enjoy the holiday fun during the quarantine period.

Since Thailand implemented a blockade policy to control the spread of the epidemic in March last year, Thailand, which has tourism as its pillar industry, has struggled with almost no foreign tourists. In October last year, Thailand formally issued special tourist visas to foreign tourists. Tourists with this visa can stay in Thailand for a maximum of 270 days, but the premise is that they are subject to a 14-day hotel quarantine after entry.

The "Island Villa Isolation" mode refers to the semi-free isolation of tourists in designated island hotel villa room types. Sipanwa Hotel is the first hotel in Thailand to introduce this model. On 21 February 2021, the first batch of 59 tourists who chose the "island villa isolation" mode stayed at Phuket Sipanwa Hotel. All these tourists passed the test on 8 March, successfully ending the isolation and starting a one-month vacation in Thailand.

On the 10th, Yin Narong of Phuket Prefecture said, “The successful implementation of this model shows that Phuket Province is capable of welcoming more tourists to return under the premise of ensuring safety. We will continue to promote this model in the future.” Narong also said. At present, many hotels have expressed their wish to join this model, and they are expected to join after inspection and approval by the health department.

Before the implementation of the “Isolation of Island Villas” model, Nakhon Nayok Province in central Thailand has taken the lead in becoming the pioneer of the “Isolation of Golf” model. After being approved by the Cabinet in December 2020, the "golf isolation" model was officially launched, and the first batch of Korean tourists was welcomed in February this year. During the quarantine period, visitors can play golf and participate in other outdoor activities in the hotel under the premise of strictly complying with the epidemic prevention regulations.

In addition, five terminals in Phuket also launched the "yacht isolation" model in October last year. Now 30 private yachts from Europe, Australia and Singapore have entered the waters of Phuket to choose this model. Up to now, a total of 144 passengers who have undergone "yacht isolation" have successfully lifted the ban. Pracha, the head of the southern region of the Thai Digital Economy Promotion Agency, said that tourists who accept this model will wear a watch that can only be tracked in real time during the 14-day quarantine on the yacht. The staff can monitor the health data of the quarantined person at any time. 

Despite the success of these patterned isolation models, Thailand’s Minister of Tourism and Sports Pipa said that these models target high-income tourists, which are still far from enough to stimulate the overall tourism industry. He said, “It is planned to implement new quarantine measures for foreign tourists who have been vaccinated from 1 April, that is, they can move freely in the hotel within 7 days, and the quarantine will be lifted after 7 days.”

Pippa also said that the Ministry of Tourism and Sports has also proposed to the epidemic management center to take the lead as soon as possible in 5 provinces including Phuket, Krabi, Surat Thani, Chiang Mai and Chonburi, so that vaccinated tourists can go freely. The above areas do not need to be isolated. At the same time, in order to establish a community immunization system in the above-mentioned areas, the government will vaccinate at least 70% of the local people in these five provinces. The Thailand Epidemic Management Center also discussed further opening up the Thai tourism industry at its regular meeting on March 12.

According to figures released by the Tourism Authority of Thailand, Thailand’s tourism revenue in 2019 was 3.02 trillion Baht (1 baht is approximately 0.21 Dollars), and in 2020 it will drop to 8 billion baht. Pippa said that if Thailand is open to foreign tourists to a certain extent by the end of this year, tourism revenue this year is still expected to reach 1.2 trillion Baht, and is expected to reach normal levels in 2023 and 2024.