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BUSINESS

Omicron will not

affect reopening,
says Phiphat
Relaxation of booze sales on the cards

PUBLISHED : 30 NOV 2021 AT 04:04

NEWSPAPER SECTION: BUSINESS
WRITER: DUSIDA WORRACHADDEJCHAI

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Chinese tourists arrive at Suvarnabhumi Airport during

the first day of the country's reopening on Nov 1. 
REUTERS

Thailand will not take a step back from the

reopening plan despite uncertainty over the
Omicron variant and the Tourism and
Sports Ministry will also propose more
relaxation on alcohol sales from the
afternoon to lift the festive sentiment.

"Nobody wants another border closure as it

was really difficult for us to reopen the
country. Our economy still suffers from the
crisis, so there will be no more border seals
unless we are in a very critical situation,"
said Phiphat Ratchakitprakarn, Tourism
and Sports Minister.

He said international travellers during the

first 29 days of reopening numbered over
100,000, which doubled from three months
of the Phuket sandbox. The figures proved
that a quarantine-free strategy is the right
way to attract tourists.

As the country recorded 200,000 tourists in

the first 11 months, the ministry expected
300,000-400,000 tourists would visit
Thailand by year-end, thanks to the winter
season.

However, the plan to replace RT-PCR tests

with antigen test kits for the Test and Go
scheme from Dec 16 has to be postponed
until there is more clarity on the Omicron
variant to prevent possible caseloads of over
20,000 per day as seen during the recent
wave.

"We have to accelerate the vaccination plan

for residents which could help guard
ourselves against the possible new wave. By
December, our country will complete 110-
120 million doses for the entire population
and such protection will at least avoid severe
conditions for those who are infected," said
Mr Phiphat.

The number of vaccines required for the

tourism industry is approximately 3.5
million doses, of which 3 million were
requested by the Tourism Council of
Thailand. The ministry will coordinate with
the Public Health Ministry to allocate
booster jabs for tourism employees as soon
as possible.

Mr Phiphat said he will discuss with the

cabinet today about allowing the sale of
alcohol in blue zone areas until after
midnight during year-end celebrations and
unlocking sales from 2-5pm as the current
rules don't permit booze sales during those
hours.

The proposal will be submitted to the Centre

for Covid-19 Situation Administration for
approval.

Mr Phiphat said the Tourism Authority of

Thailand (TAT) will organise countdown
events in five regions including Ayutthaya,
Nakhon Ratchasima, Chiang Mai, Phuket
and Chonburi with a budget of 100-120
million baht, focusing on supporting local
artists.

TAT governor Yuthasak Supasorn said the

new variant hasn't affected travel sentiment
so far.

However, the European market has started

to see slow bookings in December due to
concern over another lockdown triggered by
the spread of the new variant.

But if there's no threat from Omicron, the

number of international arrivals this year
should reach 500,000.

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