Thailand Might Have A “Golf Staycation” Quarantine For Tourists To Have Fun Instead Of Hotel Room Isolations

Rebooting Thai tourism through golf 


Mr. Phiphat Ratchakitprakarn, Thailand’s Minister of Tourism, proposed a new type of alternative state quarantine, exclusively for foreigners travelling to Thailand. The new program provides more freedom when moving around the resort. If authorised, the program will allow tourists to spend their mandatory 14-day quarantine at any of the approved golfing resorts. 


Tourism-based economies affected by Covid-19


Black Mountain Golf Resort, Hua Hin
Image credit: golftripz
Image for illustration purposes only

It’s a fact that Thailand has been one of the world’s top-ranked tourist destinations. According to the statistics, however, Thailand’s visitor numbers have dropped by a drastically high 76.41% during the first quarter of 2020 compared to 2019, which affected tourism-based businesses nationwide. The drop in numbers is largely due to Covid-19. 

Mr. Ratchakitprakarn hopes that the golfing quarantine program will incentivise tourists to visit Thailand, which will subsequently reboot the economy. The minister also passed a special long-stay visa last year, which attracted around 1,000 visitors.

https://thesmartlocal.com/thailand/new-approved-tourist-visa/


Medical certificate required


The minister ensured that preventing the spread of Covid-19 is the number one priority. Hence,  tourists provide all the necessary medical certificates when applying for the program. Once all documents have been approved, tourists can be safely tucked away to their dream quarantine staycation.

https://thesmartlocal.com/thailand/thailand-opens-borders/


Exclusive to tourists


According to the Bangkok Post, the program is now waiting for the cabinet and health ministers’ approval. However, this program is exclusively for foreign travellers, which means no putting for Thai golfers. So, don’t pack your golf bags just yet.

Read more on Thai tourism here:


Featured image adapted from: golftripz
Image for illustration purposes only

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Surachat Chuenchomsakun: