(Bloomberg) -- Thailand is sticking to its reopening plan for its resort island of Phuket even as the country struggles to contain its worst Covid-19 outbreak since the pandemic began amid slow vaccinations.
The national tourism panel met Friday and affirmed the timetable for Phuket to be back in business on July 1, when the mandatory two-week quarantine will be dropped for vaccinated visitors, according to government spokeswoman Traisuree Taisaranakul. The committee also endorsed Oct. 1 openings for nine other popular destinations, including Bangkok and Chiang Mai, with restrictions eased in the rest of Thailand in January, she said.
Thailand Rethinks Vaccine Plan as Virus Flareup Hits Economy
The success of these plans hinge on the ability of each province to meet the vaccination coverage of 70% of its residents and hospitality workers, Traisuree said. The government will soon accelerate inoculation programs “to build confidence in both the public and foreign tourists,” she said.
Thailand has administered about 1.7 million doses, enough to cover just 1.2% of its population. But in Phuket -- designated a priority region -- about 22% of its residents are fully vaccinated, according to Bhummikitti Ruktaengam, president of the Phuket Tourist Association. The island region will need an additional 700,000 doses to reach its 70% target, Bhummikitti said.
Thailand Eyes More Vaccines as Phuket Reopen Hinges on Shots
Southeast Asia's second-largest economy is currently facing its biggest wave of infections, with the total case count and deaths more than doubling since early April. The surge in cases has prompted new restrictions and downgrades to the nation's growth estimates this year.
Tourism, which made up about one-fifth of the economy pre-pandemic, is a cornerstone for any recovery. The government panel forecast 3.5 million foreign tourists in the 10 early-opening destinations in 2021, a fraction of the nearly 40 million people who visited Thailand in 2019. It estimates $9.6 billion in tourism receipts this year, compared to more than $60 billion in 2019.
©2021 Bloomberg L.P.
Essential Business Intelligence, Sharp Market Insights, Practical Personal Finance Advice, Daily Fuel, Gold and Silver Prices and Latest Stories — On NDTV Profit.
