BANGKOK, Sept 2 (TNA) – The government will allow Thai people to go on domestic tours from Oct 1 onwards, according to the tourism and sports minister.
Phiphat Ratchakitprakarn, the tourism and sports minister, said during a no-confidence debate that his ministry followed the prime minister’s reopening policy by implementing the Phuket Sandbox project which from July 1 to Aug 31 attracted more than 20,000 foreign tourists who booked 360,000 room nights and 80 of them had COVID-19.
The second phase of the country reopening would start on Oct 1 in Bangkok, Chon Buri, Phetchaburi, Prachuap Khiri Khan and Chiang Mai. The third stage would cover 21 more provinces in all regions and the fourth phase was set for early next year in a bubble manner with neighboring countries. However, the reopening of provinces would depend on the decisions of provincial health authorities, Mr Phiphat said.
Regarding the resumption of Thais’ domestic vacations from Oct 1 which marked the beginning of the high tourism season for the North, the Northeast and the Andaman Sea coast, the minister said that the activities could resume in the districts and provinces where 70% of local people were already vaccinated against COVID-19. (TNA)
