(TAN): Thailand will go ahead with the Special Tourist Visa (STV) scheme to welcome international tourists back to the country, Bangkok Post reported citing the Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT).
TAT Governor Yutthasak Supasorn said the first group of tourists from China will arrive in Phuket as part of the STV scheme in October. The first flight, scheduled to arrive on October 8, is expected to bring 120 tourists from Guangzhou.
Pilot Officer Thani Chuangchoo, director of Phuket international airport, said, “As far as I know, just as in the news, the flights will be chartered flights with a limited number of passengers, and they must follow the measures as considered by the Thai government and Ministry of Foreign Affairs from their point of origin.”
An official said the first group of foreign arrivals is considered a low-risk group because there have been no new Covid-19 cases in Guangzhou for a long time.
Thailand’s tourism and hospitality sectors have been counting on the return of international visitors, who contributed to two-thirds of tourism income before the pandemic, to reverse the slump in businesses and save millions of jobs.
