Reopening in November Expected To Generate THB 1.5 Trillion.

Bangkok and regions in four main provinces are scheduled to reopen on November 1, with the government projecting that tourist income would reach THB 1.5 trillion by 2022. The aim is to open without quarantine restrictions for foreign tourists, barring an unanticipated spike in COVID-19 that would be impossible to control.

According to a government spokesperson, 10 places will reopen to foreign tourists in November, including 4 in the province of Chiang Mai, 3 in the province of Chon Buri, and 1 each in Phetchaburi and Prachuap Khiri Khan provinces.

“These areas will reopen if no major or severe infection groups occur starting today until November 1. Other requirements for tourists include being completely vaccinated and a negative COVID-19 test result before arrival.”

Chiang Mai, Doi Tao, Mae Rim, Mae Taeng, and Muang districts are scheduled to reopen to foreign tourists, while Chon Buri’s focus is on reopening Bang Lamung, Pattaya City, and Sattahip. Prachuap Khiri Khan province’s Hua Hin.

Reopening Bangkok is still a major priority. The highly crowded capital city has seen the highest number of COVID-19 infections and fatalities as it battles to control the pandemic. Still, it also serves as a center for foreign visitors to Thailand.

“While tourists may choose to visit the sea or the mountains, nearly everyone must visit Bangkok at least once on their trips in Thailand.”

The hopeful government anticipates that these reopenings would result in a flood of local and foreign tourists, generating THB 1.5 trillion in tourism income. They expect domestic tourists to spend THB 850 billion on 160 million trips next year, while foreign tourists are estimated to spend THB 650 billion on approximately 15 million tourists.

This objective is less than half of the THB3.4 Trillion of tourism revenue generated in 2019 before the pandemic hit the country with approximately 40 million foreign tourists. The country’s Sandbox reopenings brought in approximately THB 2.33 billion this year with more than 43,000 visitors entering Phuket province and only 1,069 tourists participate in the Samui Plus 7+7 extension programs.

Source: The Nation

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