The Thai Hotels Association says the federal government should drop the PCR testing requirement for foreign guests if there’s going to be any hope of salvaging the country’s tourism industry. Safety says demand for the revamped Test & Go scheme is lower now than when it was first launched in November, because of excessive season coming to an end soon. However, she says the new requirement for a second PCR check on day 5 is also an element.
“We have to create more momentum for the trade to take off from its historic low. If the testing requirement for the Test & Go scheme can’t be relaxed, tourism will surely face further collapse as operators already drew their last breath.”
The THA boss was addressing attendees at a Bangkok Post convention when she known as for PCR testing on arrival to be dropped. Marisa identified that Thailand wants to remain aggressive as other countries such as the Philippines, Vietnam, Cambodia, and Australia all open up with fewer entry restrictions. In Europe, several international locations have dropped the need for PCR testing previous to entry and the Maldives, which has also ditched the PCR testing requirement, loved tourism numbers in 2021 that surpassed those of 2019.
The Bangkok Post reviews that Marisa went on to say the additional requirements mean many hotels have needed to hire extra workers. They want an occupancy fee of 45% just to interrupt even, compared to occupancy of 30% – 40% in pre-pandemic occasions. However, if the federal government would relax a variety of the entry necessities for abroad guests, in addition to agreeing a variety of travel bubbles, she says motels could attain occupancy rates of 50%.
Also talking on the convention was Amonthep Chawla, chief economist from CIMB Thai Bank. He believes Thailand’s tourism sector will lag behind the overall financial system when it comes to recovery post-Covid.
“Although we assess the Thai economic system will attain the identical degree as earlier than the pandemic in the first quarter of subsequent 12 months, the country’s tourism recovery will take more time. Hotels focusing on high-end customers will get well first, while those under four stars and tour businesses would take longer to rebound.”