Thailand seeks travel bubbles with China, Malaysia, and India

Later this month, the arrangements with China and Malaysia regarding the travel bubbles will commence

The Association of Thai Travel Agents (ATTA) says that if the Thai government initiates travel bubbles with its Asian partners this year, international arrivals may go beyond 5 million.

This is following the Test & Go scheme that started on 1 February, when Thailand was reopened to overseas tourists. The travel scheme allows visitors with health insurance to skip quarantine if their COVID-19 tests are negative.

ATTA president Sisdivachr Cheewarattanaporn told Bangkok Post that “Apart from the Tourism and Sports Ministry and the Tourism Authority of Thailand [TAT], travel bubbles cannot be accomplished without strong support from the Foreign Ministry. If the Foreign Ministry cannot initiate such cooperation, then the prime minister himself has to take the lead.”

Later this month, the arrangements with China and Malaysia regarding the travel bubbles will commence as part of Thailand’s efforts to bolster steady recovery in the tourism sector.

Due to lower external demand and tighter quarantine and entrance restrictions, Thailand only attracted approximately 0.5 percent of what they were in 2019, where about 40 million foreign visitors visited the country — more than a quarter of which came from China.

The Thaiger reported that there are agencies, however, such as the Tourism Council of Thailand (TCT), that are concerned that travel bubbles alone will not be enough to revive Thailand’s tourism sector. In order to welcome at least 5 million overseas visitors this year, the TCT advised the country to employ a relaxed approach to its PCR testing requirements.

More: Thailand’s hospitality sector expects to reach $357M in 2021

An air travel bubble scheme between Thailand and India has been greenlit by Thailand’s Centre for COVID-19 Situation Administration (CCSA).

According to Thai PBS World, while the cabinet has yet to give its approval, CCSA spokesman Dr. Taweesin Visanuyothin stated that Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha has asked relevant agencies to accelerate the promotion of Thai tourism and economic development.

The Property Report editors wrote this article. For more information, email: [email protected].