Hotels and Tourists Reminded To Follow COVID-19 Guidelines

The Center for COVID-19 Situation Administration is investigating complaints from residents, companies, hotels, and visitors concerning non-compliance with COVID-19 guidelines. There has been an issue with tourists refusing to comply with necessary Covid-19 safety standards such as wearing face masks. On the other hand, hotels have been discovered hiding all COVID-19 related fees in their booking costs, irritating incoming tourists.

TOURIST BEHAVIOR 

As the 17 Blue Zone regions reopened for tourism, a group of incoming tourists doesn’t follow COVID-19 guidelines and safety protocols. Some utterly disregard the rules established by Thailand.  The Center for COVID-19 Situation Administration advises tourists that these safety guidelines and health protocols are mandatory.

The Center for COVID-19 Situation Administration Deputy Spokesperson reminded tourists that health and safety guidelines should be strictly followed and visitors who violate them will face a penalty of 1,000 baht for the first offense, up to 10,000 baht for the second offense, and between 10,000 and 20,000 baht for the third and successive offenses.

“Hotel and business operators have notified the CCSA that some of their customers refused to wear facemasks, while others insisted on dining together in large groups, which increases the risk of the virus spreading. Officials have visited these establishments and issued warnings to customers violating regulations set by the Public Health Ministry. Repeat offenders can face a fine up to 20,000 baht as per the Communicable Disease Control Act.”

HIDING COVID-19 RELATED COSTS BY HOTELS

Tourists have complained about getting duped by dishonest hotels that removed necessary COVID-19 fees from their booking rates. These hotels are promoting just their room rates, leaving clients disappointed when they discovered they had to pay extra for airport transportation and COVID-19 tests.

By the time their guests discovered the misleading pricing, the booking can’t be canceled and the booked guest can’t get a refund, and they were forced to pay the additional fees. The CCSA spokeswoman chided hotels, stating that after weeks of reopening, hotels must already understand and implement that these COVID-19 testing and transportation costs must be included upon their guests’ booking reservation and advising them to stop deceiving practices.

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SOURCE: Nation Thailand