This photo taken on August 14, 2021 shows people wearing face masks on Patong Beach in Phuket as tourists take advantage of the "Phuket Sandbox" programme for visitors fully vaccinated against the COVID-19. (Photo: AFP/VNA) The Centre for Economic Situation Administration (CESA)approved on September 30 the Tourism Authority of Thailand's (TAT) plan topromote Phuket as a world-class destination with a goal of generating 60billion baht (about 1.7 billion USD) during the fourth quarter of this year andthe first quarter of 2022.
According to additional data released about the performanceof the island's “sandbox” reopening scheme following its launch on July 1, Thaitravellers topped the sandbox entrants over the past three months, followed bythe US as the biggest international source market.
The sandbox's economic contribution during its first threemonths was 2.25 billion baht.
Among the 37,978 travellers enrolling in this scheme, 23,215travelled to other destinations in the country after completing the mandatory14-day stay in Phuket.
The number of visitors is expected to significantly increasein the final quarter factoring in the quarantine reduction from 14 to sevendays starting from October, while a consistent decrease in the infection ratebenefits inbound markets in the upcoming high season, said Yuthasak Supasorn,TAT governor.
He said CESA also approved easing of eight travel measures.
Three conditions have been implemented, comprisingquarantine reduction; allowing group applications for certificate of entry(COE), which will enable tour operators to help clients process the entryforms; and allowing commercial flights from Russia at the end of October.
Yuthasak said the easing of restrictions should helpgenerate at least 500,000 tour packages via chartered flights over the next sixmonths, of which 295,000 packages would be from the Russian market, for a totalof 2.5 million room nights, followed by 130,000 packages from the UK and Nordiccountries, generating 200,000 room nights.
However, he said another five conditions require furtherdiscussion with related parties, including relaxing the high-risk contact rulefor passengers boarding the same flight with a COVID-19 patient, reducing theRT-PCR test price, and reducing mandatory COVID-19 insurance coverage from 100,000USD to 50,000 USD.
In addition to the reopening programme, CESA said it agreedwith the proposal to establish a tourism support fund to give the travelindustry a makeover, with an initial budget of 5 billion baht.
Thailan on October 1 morning reported 11,754 new COVID-19 cases and 123 relateddeaths in the past 24 hours, raising the national count to 1,615,229 and deathtoll to 16,850./.
VNA
