Thailand plans to scrap the Thailand Tourist Pass
Thailand plans to scrap the Thailand Tourist Pass.
Tourism and Sports Minister Phiphat Ratchakitprakan said he plans to ask Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha to propose at the next meeting of the Centre for Covid-19 Situation Administration (CCSA) an end to the Thailand Pass registration scheme. He believes the number of foreign tourists will rise to 30,000 per day once it is lifted.
Mr Phiphat said this while in Phuket to make preparations for Gen Prayut’s visit to the island resort province on Monday to inspect the implementation of education and tourism policies.
He said an increase in tourist arrivals would help economic recovery.
Tourist attractions operators have rehabilitated and maintained their attractions to draw more tourists. The Natural Resources and Environment Ministry has these efforts.
Tourism Minister confident pass removal will increase tourist arrivals
“Once we lift the Thailand Pass, I am confident the number of daily tourist arrivals will go up to about 30,000. The number may go up to 40,000-50,000 later in the year. In the past, the highest number of daily arrivals was 100,000. We have to fight to retake this target,” Mr Phiphat said.
Mr Phiphat said he would ask the prime minister to propose lifting the requirement at the next meeting of the CCSA for the Thailand Pass.
At present foreign nationals must still apply for Thailand Pass registration. They need to provide passport and vaccination details and a US$10,000 health insurance policy. The system will then automatically issue a Thailand Pass QR code for the applicant.
The CCSA no longer requires Thai nationals are no longer required to apply.
The pandemic has hit Thailand tremendously since 2020. Prior to the pandemic, around 100,000 tourists used to visit Thailand daily. Thailand has fought hard to recover those numbers.
One way was the issue of the Thailand Tourist pass in 2021. This pass included the tourism sandbox in Phuket.
Prior to the Covid-19 pandemic, the tourism industry used to contribute between 15 to 20 percent of Thailand’s annual GDP.
