On Tuesday (Sept 17), the cabinet of Thailand has decided to allow foreign nationals holding long-term tourist visas to stay up to 270 days as the government plans to reopen the country to foreign tourists starting from next month to help the shattered economy and to support the major sectors which have been hard hit by the COVID-19 pandemic.

After the cabinet meeting, Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha has informed that special tourist visas will be issued by the government for long-stay visitors. But, the most important condition for inbound tourists will be a mandatory isolation period up to 14 days.

He said, “Visitors can arrive for tourism or health services, and they can stay at alternative state quarantine facilities, specific areas or at hospitals that function as quarantine facilities.”

“Our public health system is amongst the best in the world and people can have confidence in it,” he added.

Deputy Government Spokeswoman Traisulee Traisoranakul has said that long-stay visitors will be required to show the proof of payment for long-term residence in the country. This can be payment of booking a hotel or the rent of an apartment room.

She also told a cabinet briefing that visitors will be able to extend their 90-day special tourist visa two more times at a cost of 2,000 baht.

Mr. Yuthasak Supasorn, Governor of the official Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT), has confirmed at a press conference that the government’s goal is to allow foreign tourists from low-risk or no-risk countries to visit Thailand from next month.

The target is to receive 100-300 tourists per week or up to 1,200 tourists per month, with a monthly income of about 1 billion baht.

Fearing a second wave of the pandemic, the government has previously shelved plans to reopen the country’s border to foreign tourists, including the East Asia travel bubble and proposals to designate resorts in Phuket for holidays that include restrictions on movement and mandatory isolation.

Since the travel ban was imposed in late March, this tourism-dependent country has not welcomed any foreign tourist. The state planning agency predicts that foreign tourists will only be 6.7 million this year after last year’s record of 39.8 million (consumption of 11.5% of GDP).

In regard to COVID-19 transmission in Thailand, by imposing travel restrictions on all except approved foreigners and returning Thai nationals and mandatory quarantine upon arrival, the country has reported a total number of 3,490 confirmed cases which are under treatment and 58 deaths caused. However, 3,316 patients who tested positive to COVID-19 have completely recovered from the virus, as of Wednesday (Sept 16).