(TAN): Thailand plans to build “travel bubbles” through bilateral agreements to keep the coronavirus pandemic under control when the country reopens its borders, reports said.
“Once the situation improves, we’ll allow travel between countries that we have an agreement with,” Thailand’s Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha was quoted by Bangkok Post as saying.
He reportedly added the cabinet has not received any such deals yet.
According to reports, Thailand’s emergency state has been extended by another month until the end of this month. While its international borders will remain closed until June 30, the country has also put a ban on most inbound international flights, reports said.
The Southeast Asian country is considering ways to resume the tourism industry and easing lockdown restrictions after COVID-19 cases flattened, as per reports. However, Prime Minister Chan-o-cha stressed on cautious reopening to avoid another outbreak, reports said. Free movement too will reportedly not be permitted because of the same reason.
“If the country reopens to foreign travellers too quickly and they bring the virus with them, Thailand will have to go back into lockdown, which will be catastrophic,” Prime Minister Chan-o-cha was quoted by TTG Asia as saying.
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Thailand, now in its third phase of the coronavirus lockdown, has allowed moderate-risk businesses such as spas, massage parlours, boxing stadium and convention centres to reopen, although curfews for shorter phases are still in place, as per reports. The country could end the lockdown by July 1 if there are no further outbreaks, reports said.
“The government has set July 1 for the lifting of all business and activity lockdowns,” TTG Asia quoted the National Security Council chief General Somsak Rungsita sasaying.
So far, Thailand has reported 3,084 cases of infection, including 58 deaths, according to data from Johns Hopkins University.
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I am a tourist from Botswana 🇧🇼 stuck in India , will I be allowed to enter Thailand when it opens?
I am a South African in Cambodia. I have been here for 5 months now. Will land boarders open end of June.
I would like to travel from siem reap to Thailand as soon as possible
What would I require. As a South African I know I get visa on arrival and I would need a medical clearance certificate no longer than 72 hours before departure
Do we know when we will be able to book our bus tickets ?
I miss Thailand for summer vacations .
Thai government agencies have considered requiring all visitors to buy insurance before entering the country. But private tourism organizations worry this would hurt the travel industry, which generates up to 20% of gross domestic product.