Published on Tuesday, October 20, 2020

Tourists return to Thailand

Thailand has welcomed its first tourists after seven months of border closures.

The first tourist group arrived in Bangkok from Shanghai under the new Special Tourist Visa scheme and must quarantine for 14 days.

Before being let loose to explore the country the 41 tourists must test negative twice for Covid-19 and have to install a tracking app on their phones.

Yuthasak Supasorn, governor of the Tourism Authority of Thailand, said most of the tourists are keen to explore the country when allowed to do so.

The visa allows tourist to stay in the country for 30 days.

A second group of 100 tourists is due to arrive in Bangkok from Guangzhou next week, and there will be about 400 foreign visitors by early November.

However, President of the Tourism Council of Thailand Chairat Trirattanajarasporn says the growing street protests across the country could hinder a tourism recovery.

Chairat says some tourist destinations, including Bangkok could be impacted, and it could even lead to yet another coup.

Tourism Authority of Thailand governor Yuthasak Supasorn says there has been no concerns raised overseas in respect to incoming tourists' safety and there have been no trip cancellations.

Written by Ray Montgomery, Asia Editor