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BANGKOK – Thailand’s tourism minister said Monday that he had proposed a plan to allow foreigners to self-quarantine at some of the country’s many golf courses to boost the ailing tourism sector during the coronavirus pandemic.
“We are discussing with the Ministry of Public Health and the country’s coronavirus task force to offer hotel and golf quarantine to tourists with medical certificates,” Minister Phiphat Ratchakitprakarn told reporters.
Foreign tourists could spend the two-week quarantine period at a specific resort and move around the hotel area and also play golf, he said, rather than simply isolating themselves in their rooms.
The plan, which is subject to cabinet approval, comes as the Southeast Asian country faces a second wave of coronavirus infections after having largely managed to contain community spread for months. Thailand has reported a relatively low number of 10,547 COVID-19 infections and 67 deaths, although since various clusters emerged in December, the country has been recording several hundred new cases a day.
Thailand attracted 40 million tourists in 2019 who spent 1.91 trillion baht ($ 63.4 billion), but the number of visitors fell during the pandemic after its borders were sealed, devastating hotels, restaurants and tourist spots. that depended on foreign visitors.
A special visa scheme that began last year for long-stay visitors has attracted about 1,000 tourists, Phiphat said.
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