Thailand offers a really interesting solution for tourists who wish to return to visit the magnificent Asian country.
Visitors can now spend the mandatory two-week quarantine for the coronavirus on a yacht.
The government hopes the new initiative will bring significant revenues for nautical tourism as well as reviving the country’s struggling tourism industry, which has been hit hard by the pandemic.
In January, Thailand announced a program to allow visitors to quarantine on a golf course.
The nation of Southeast Asia relies heavily on tourists, but access to the country was restricted last year to limit the spread of the coronavirus.
The yacht quarantine program will allow visitors with a negative coronavirus test to spend their time aboard a yacht or small cruise ship in Phuket.
The pandemic has seen the number of tourists in the popular tourist destination plummet from 40,000-50,000 per day to a few hundred.
Thailand Yacht Test Drive
The program studied by the government has already involved about 100 yachts that will take part in the project once the tests have been carried out.
For safety, travelers are required to wear a smart bracelet that monitors vital signs including temperature and blood pressure, as well as tracking the wearer’s location via GPS. The device can also transmit information at sea, within a 10 km radius, the government said.
After banning foreign tourists in March last year, Thailand has gradually reopened its borders since October.
Last week, Thailand’s tourism minister said he will propose a plan for foreigners that plans to undertake quarantine in popular tourist areas, including beach resorts.
The hotel quarantine plan is expected to start in April or May in popular provinces including Phuket, Krabi and Chiang Mai.
