Thailand’s Recovery Lays a Safe Path for the Return of Tourism

Thailand’s remarkable public health campaign to contain the spread of COVID-19 has paved the way for the safe return of tourism.

While Thailand was one of the first nations in the world to record cases of COVID-19, the country’s success in containing the spread of the virus since then has been remarkable.

Thanks to a combination of hard work, sacrifice and cooperation across every level of Thai society, daily life has largely returned to normal. By meticulously following high standards of hygiene, sanitation and safety, across the country, shops, restaurants, hotels and sports venues are all open and beginning to thrive again.

For Thailand’s world-famous leisure and tourism industry, the pandemic has been particularly difficult. Since the country closed its borders to protect against the spread of the virus, owners, operators and employees have struggled to survive.

However, having navigated through several crises in the past, the Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) recognised that recovering from the worst of these crises could not be rushed. A carefully calibrated strategy is required to reopen tourism successfully.

The centrepiece of that strategy is confidence. Without total confidence in the industry’s ability to keep people safe, visitors in Thailand and around the world would be reluctant to return.

The pandemic created a crisis, but it also presented Thailand with an opportunity to reflect, reboot, and focus on its strengths.

Showcasing strengths

At this difficult time, the country’s outstanding public health response to the crisis is the most important of these strengths. To showcase this success, TAT developed the Amazing Thailand Safety and Health Administration (SHA) initiative in collaboration with the Ministry of Tourism and Sports, Ministry of Public Health, Department of Disease Control, Department of Health, and the Department of Health Service Support, as well as private sector organisations.

The SHA is a comprehensive certification programme that ensures every business in the tourism industry observes the same strict hygiene protocols. These standards apply to hotels, restaurants, shopping venues, tourist attractions, transport operators, travel agencies, theatres, entertainment venues and sports stadiums.

Long before the country’s borders reopen to limited numbers of tourists, Thailand has been able to perfect these protocols. The SHA programme has enabled thousands of businesses to get up and running again in the safest way possible.

Meanwhile, the country’s quarantine system for returning Thai and foreign residents has been highly successful in preventing any imported infections from spreading into wider society, and many of the lessons from that programme have now been applied to the tourism sector.

Showcasing safety

The Alternative State Quarantine (ASQ) programme has showcased Thailand’s expertise in three key areas: public health management, hospitality, and medical services.

For several months, many of the top hotels in the capital Bangkok have been participating in ASQ, offering a combination of world-class hospitality and medical care that has ensured a safe and comfortable return to the country for tens of thousands of residents stranded overseas during the crisis.

The revival of domestic tourism has further widened the numbers of hotels and operators restarting business, giving them the chance to perfect their approach to balancing service and safety for guests.

“The SHA scheme has ensured that despite the pandemic, Thailand’s status as one of the world’s favourite countries has been enhanced,” said Yuthasak Supasorn, TAT Governor. In August 2020, for example, Thailand topped the list of the world’s safest travel destinations in a study by a German-based travel company.

In response to high demand, in September, the Thai government approved the introduction of a “special tourist visa” for visitors wanting a long-term stay in the country. Under the scheme, visitors can travel to Thailand for 90 days, including an initial 14-day quarantine period, and extend their stay for an additional 180 days.

A sustainable future

Now that Thailand is beginning to reopen its doors to limited numbers of overseas tourists, the country is also taking the opportunity to ‘Build Back Better’. This means using the pause in visitor arrivals to reflect on the benefits and challenges that a hugely successful tourism industry has brought to the country, and finding ways to improve.

Tourists around the world have been waiting patiently to return to a country they have grown to love for its people, food, culture, and incredible natural beauty. But while those prized features have helped Thailand become one of the world’s most popular destinations, that success has also placed pressure on its culture and environment.

TAT has now signed a Memorandum of Understanding with the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) to build the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals into its long-term tourism policy framework.

Many of Thailand’s outstanding national parks witnessed a dramatic recovery in wildlife and quality of environment during the pandemic shutdown, and the country now intends to capitalise on that opportunity to ensure that these areas remain pristine for tourists once they return, as well as for future generations.

“The number of tourists will now be limited to maintain the natural balance,” said TAT Governor Yuthasak. “What will remain unchanged is traditional Thai hospitality, friendliness and good service.”

source: https://bit.ly/3pHOcDO