The cabinet in Thailand has approved the introduction of the Special Tourist Visa (STV) to allow in foreign tourist who agrees to a 14-day quarantine and a stay for at least 90 days to help the economy.
Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha said on Tuesday after the cabinet meeting that the government would issue the STV for long-stay visitors with the most important condition that they will adhere to a 14-day quarantine.
“Visitors can arrive for tourism or health services, and they must stay at alternative state quarantine facilities, specific areas or at hospitals that function as quarantine facilities,” he said.
Traisulee Traisaranakul, the deputy government spokeswoman said visitors would also have to present proof of payment for their long stay in the country in form of hotel reservation or condominium lease.
Traisulee said the government targets to welcome 100-300 visitors each week or up to 1,200 visitors a month to generate income of about 1 billion baht each month. The 90-day visa could be extended twice, for 90 days each time and these long-stay visitors could begin arriving as early as next month, she added.
According to Tanarak Plipat, the Deputy Director of Department of Disease Control (DDC), the reopening of the country to foreign visitors will not raise the risks of local Covid-19 transmission from imported infections as the visitors would be subject to a stay at a state quarantine facilities for 14 days.
