The largest European travel company, TUI Nordic, has reportedly cancelled chartered flights scheduled to bring some 30,000 tourists to Phuket from December to April next year.
The Centre for Covid-19 Situation Administration announced that no new Thailand Pass applications would be accepted from December 22 midnight. The aim is to curb Omicron infections and the situation will be re-evaluated on January 4.
“The suspension of the Test & Go scheme is affecting tourists’ decision to visit Phuket, even though they can still enter the country under the Phuket Sandbox programme,” said Angkhana, who is also commissioner of the Thai Hotels Association (Southern Chapter).
“Furthermore, most European countries are now enforcing quarantine for returnees from countries that have Omicron outbreak, which has further increased tourists’ reluctance to book a trip to Thailand despite the New Year holidays.”
Meanwhile, Thanes Supharasahasrangsee, acting president of the Chonburi Federation of Tourism Industry, said tourism operators in Chonburi, Rayong and Prachuap Khiri Khan have called on the Tourism and Sports Ministry and the Tourism Authority of Thailand to consider turning tourist cities like Pattaya, Koh Samet and Hua Hin into “blue zones” or sandbox areas.
“Turning these cities into blue zones will help attract foreign tourists and keep the tourism industry alive while it is still recovering from the impact of Covid-19,” he said.
“Many small businesses had started reopening on November 1 when the government announced the country was reopening under the Test and Go scheme. With the scheme suspended, these businesses are likely to shut down again, some maybe for good.” – The Nation
