Thailand considers “vaccination holidays” to lure tourists
Thailand’s tourism operators have embarked on the idea to attract tourists with vaccination tour packages after the first batch of inoculations will have arrived in the country, which is expected for February.
“After the vaccines arrive, we need a tourism plan by the second quarter this year to create more demand,” said Chamnan Srisawat, president of the Tourism Council of Thailand.
The one-month tour packages are expected to cost a whopping 150,000 baht (around $5,000) and include a 14-day quarantine in an alternative state quarantine or alternative local quarantine facility, as well as vaccination costs.
The proposal is apparently aiming at a growing international market for wealthy travelers who are seeking to jump the queue for vaccination in their home countries.
The plan for Thailand aims to support inbound operators and hoteliers at major tourism destinations that still rely heavily on the international market after a long pause.
Plan in the early stages
However, Srisawat said that the idea was still in the early stages of discussion and required more consideration, such as the availability of vaccines in Thailand and a government determination of its likelihood.
“Tourism-related operators will not be able to stay afloat until mass vaccination programmes take place globally,” he said, adding that “we still need financial relief from the government.”
Critics of the plan said that Thailand was not considered a Covid-19 vaccine hub as the country cannot produce a mass supply attracting a large volume of tourists.
The country should instead promote itself as a wellness destination for both tourists focused on health and well-being, as well as medical tourists seeking professional treatment in Thailand, they said.
Thailand’s tourism operators have embarked on the idea to attract tourists with vaccination tour packages after the first batch of inoculations will have arrived in the country, which is expected for February. "After the vaccines arrive, we need a tourism plan by the second quarter this year to create more demand," said Chamnan Srisawat, president of the Tourism Council of Thailand. The one-month tour packages are expected to cost a whopping 150,000 baht (around $5,000) and include a 14-day quarantine in an alternative state quarantine or alternative local quarantine facility, as well as vaccination costs. The proposal is apparently aiming...
Thailand’s tourism operators have embarked on the idea to attract tourists with vaccination tour packages after the first batch of inoculations will have arrived in the country, which is expected for February.
“After the vaccines arrive, we need a tourism plan by the second quarter this year to create more demand,” said Chamnan Srisawat, president of the Tourism Council of Thailand.
The one-month tour packages are expected to cost a whopping 150,000 baht (around $5,000) and include a 14-day quarantine in an alternative state quarantine or alternative local quarantine facility, as well as vaccination costs.
The proposal is apparently aiming at a growing international market for wealthy travelers who are seeking to jump the queue for vaccination in their home countries.
The plan for Thailand aims to support inbound operators and hoteliers at major tourism destinations that still rely heavily on the international market after a long pause.
Plan in the early stages
However, Srisawat said that the idea was still in the early stages of discussion and required more consideration, such as the availability of vaccines in Thailand and a government determination of its likelihood.
“Tourism-related operators will not be able to stay afloat until mass vaccination programmes take place globally,” he said, adding that “we still need financial relief from the government.”
Critics of the plan said that Thailand was not considered a Covid-19 vaccine hub as the country cannot produce a mass supply attracting a large volume of tourists.
The country should instead promote itself as a wellness destination for both tourists focused on health and well-being, as well as medical tourists seeking professional treatment in Thailand, they said.
