The first group of 58 travellers have successfully completed the first Villa Quarantine pilot project and are free to embark on a one-month tour of the country from March 8 onwards, TAT News reported.
The Villa Quarantine project at Sri Panwa Phuket was endorsed by the Centre for Covid-19 Situation Administration (CCSA), and paves the way for the launch of a larger area quarantine initiative that is tentatively scheduled to start in April-May 2021.
H.E. Mr. Phiphat Ratchakitprakarn, Minister of Tourism and Sports, said, “We are delighted by the success of the Villa Quarantine pilot project that now allows tourists to travel and experience Thailand. It shows confidence in Thailand’s public health system that protects the safety of both international tourists and local people alike, allowing the Ministry to now push through the area quarantine for final approval.”
The Ministry of Tourism and Sports has proposed the launch of the area quarantine in five pilot provinces favoured by international travellers – Phuket, Krabi, Surat Thani (Ko Samui, Ko Phangan and Ko Tao), Chiang Mai and Chon Buri (Pattaya) – where tourists could potentially spend between one to three months.
The Ministry has also urged the Royal Thai Government to begin inoculating tourism personnel in Phuket, Chong Buri (Pattaya), Surat Thani, and Chiang Mai with 50,000 doses of the vaccine allocated for hotel staff first. It has also sought cooperation from the Ministry of Public Health to allocate an additional five million doses of the vaccine that would be available in the third quarter for 2.5 million general public in Phuket, Krabi, Surat Thani, Chiang Mai, and Chon Buri. This is in preparation for the start of ‘vaccine passport’ tourism for inoculated travellers originating from low-risk countries.
Read more at TAT News