There is still a yawning emptiness in most of Thailand’s hotels and restaurants. The vacation paradise lets tourists into the country again. But the feelings are mixed.
Bangkok – Thailand is daring to restart tourism after a year and a half and is again welcoming holidaymakers with full corona vaccination protection from 63 countries.
The opening took place on Monday one day before the official start of the local dry season – the most beautiful time of the year for a trip to the islands, temples and jungles of ancient Siam.
Germany, Austria and Switzerland are also on the list of countries classified as safe, which was expanded by 17 nations at the weekend. Indonesia and Luxembourg were added, for example.
Actually it would be high season now
“I am confident that the reopening will bring great benefits to the country, especially in the high tourist season, which usually lasts until the beginning of next year,” said TAT Governor Yuthasak Supasorn. The agency expects more than a million tourists from all over the world in the next six months. For comparison: In 2019 as a whole, 40 million foreign guests came.
61 flights were expected on Monday at Suvarnabhumi Airport in the capital Bangkok. In Bangkok, the most important sights are now to reopen, including the Grand Palace, which has been closed for months. The nocturnal exit restrictions are no longer applicable, at least in Bangkok, and restaurants are allowed to serve alcohol again. The nightlife is still largely silent, however. In addition, it is mandatory to wear a mask everywhere.
Escape the European winter
The country urgently needs the income from the tourism industry, which has been almost completely on the ground since the beginning of the pandemic. Only the islands of Phuket and Ko Samui had already made quarantine-free holidays possible again in July with the help of special programs. However, the rush was limited due to strict requirements. “There is now the unique chance to have many famous places and historical sites in Thailand almost entirely to yourself. You should take advantage of that, ”said an American who has lived in Bangkok for 30 years.
The Briton Keith Bowers is starting his long-awaited vacation in Thailand in ten days. The pensioner first travels to Bangkok and then wants to go to the beaches of Hua Hin and Ko Chang. “It’s really exciting to have the chance to travel to a beautiful country like Thailand again,” he told the German Press Agency. “We all have to respect the new international rules. But now enjoying a certain freedom again and being able to escape the European winter is a great feeling. “
There are some rules, but the authorities have tried to defuse them. A “Thailand Pass”, for which guests have to register online, has replaced the complicated procedure of the “Certificate of Entry”. If you want to come, you must have stayed in one or more of the 63 countries classified as safe for 21 days. A PCR test that is not more than 72 hours old is also required.
A PCR test then has to be done after arrival. Then the guests have to wait in a hotel for the result. If it turns out negative, you can move freely from the second day. Unvaccinated people have to be in hotel quarantine for ten days.
But some are afraid of the consequences of the opening: The newspaper “Bangkok Post” spoke of “mixed feelings” among the 70 million Thais. In a survey by the Ministry of Health, around 92 percent of those questioned said they feared a new wave of corona. It is estimated that only 42 percent of the population are fully vaccinated against the virus, many with Chinese vaccines.
“I don’t think we’re ready for the restart because a lot of people haven’t been vaccinated yet,” said a 31-year-old who works in a restaurant in Bangkok and wanted to remain anonymous. “That could be really bad for our country, with more cases, more lockdowns and more restrictions.” On the day it opened, authorities reported 8,165 new infections and 55 deaths related to Covid-19. dpa
