Thailand plans to boost tourism industry

 Thailand plans to boost tourism industry

On February 7, the Thai government announced that it was planning to hold bilateral negotiations with a number of countries such as China and Malaysia on a tourism bubble program to attract tourists from these countries. , in the context that Thailand has just restarted the "Test & Go" program (Test and Go).

Chinese tourists enter at Suvarnabhumi International Airport, Thailand on February 1. (Photo: REUTERS)

According to Thanakorn Wangboonkongchana, spokesman for the Thai Government, it is necessary to pursue bilateral agreements with familiar markets at this time, because attracting tourists through programs such as "Test&Go" ” or “Sandbox” is not really effective as expected.

The return of Chinese and Malaysian tourists, Thailand's largest tourist groups before the pandemic, is seen by the country as key to a sustainable recovery. Previously, Chinese and Malaysian tourists accounted for more than a third of the total 40 million visitors to Thailand in 2019, bringing Thailand more than 20 billion USD in tourism revenue.

The government spokesman added that tourists under the tourist bubble program may not have to undergo quarantine and be granted a special visa, along with accommodation arrangements. Negotiations with the above countries will also cover a quota for tourists and identify specific areas for their movement activities to prevent the Covid-19 outbreak.

In another development on the same day, Thai Airways announced that it was looking to resume most of its international routes by the end of April. Before that, airlines in Thailand had suspended most of their flights. international flights due to the Covid-19 pandemic and only resumed international flights in the fourth quarter of 2021.

Thai Airways is one of the Thai companies hardest hit by Covid-19. The airline was already struggling to turn a profit even before the pandemic hit, and the global shutdown has resulted in the company appearing regularly in bankruptcy court and having to restructure. completely. However, according to its latest financial report, Thai Airways posted a net profit of 51 billion baht in the first nine months of 2021, thanks to profits from debt restructuring and the sale of assets and shares.