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BANGKOK, Aug.30 (Xinhua): Thailand’s Minister of Tourism and Sports Phiphat Ratchakitprakarn announced that his ministry is in talks with related sectors of the government to extend subsidies for foreign tourists to stay on the Thai resort island of Phuket during a period of up to nine months.
“Many government units, including Prime Minister Prayut Chan-O-Cha, have agreed to this idea in principle,” the minister said.
“This 9-month period would include the mandatory 14-day quarantine and frequent Covid-19 testing in Phuket.”
Thailand’s state and private sectors have been calling for opening up the Thai skies as quickly as possible to save the country’s ailing tourism industry.
Prayut also previously said that by opening Thailand up to selected healthy tourists, the country will survive the tough times brought on by the Covid-19 outbreak.
Thailand’s two main sources of income are derived from tourism and export.
On Saturday, Phiphat said that after three weeks in Phuket, foreign tourists with negative test results could travel to other regions of the country.
“The initial visa would be for 90 days and could be extended two more times for a total of 270 days,” Phiphat said.
Thailand until Saturday, has already exceeded three months free of local Covid-19 transmission. – Xinhua
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