Thailand might reopen for tourism by as soon as July 1

On Tuesday, Thailand Tourism introduced a campaign trying to persuade the countrymen to welcome overseas tourists back by July. With campaign #OpenThailandSafely aims at welcoming tourists from across the globe by July 1, 2021. The said date is chosen so as to give enough time for prospective travellers to get vaccinated.

Not only this, the organisers expect that Thai medical authorities will also be able to vaccinate their frontline staff and vulnerable citizens by July 1. It would also allow the tourism industry, including airlines and hotels, enough time to prepare to welcome tourists from abroad.On the other hand, the World Health Organization has also warned about the risks of countries easing restrictions too fast. William Heinecke, Chairman of Minor International Pcl that operates 500 hotels across the globe is leading an online petition campaign to reopen the borders in the third quarter of the year.
The online petition that received 6000 signs in just two days says, “The current situation is unsustainable. The July 1 reopening would be a strategic opportunity for Thailand to show a leadership role among Asian countries and prepare the way for a solid recovery of the Thai economy in 2022.”

With strict lockdown measures, Thailand managed to contain COVID-19 infections and reported 84 deaths. But lockdown meant no tourism, which plays an integral part in the country’s economy. A successful reopening for international tourists by Thailand will surely inspire other tourism-dependent nations to open up gradually.