Thailand mulls free domestic flights for foreigners

BANGKOK: Thailand is considering offering free domestic flights to foreign tourists after airline workers were approved for Covid19 vaccine jabs this week.

It’s Tourism and Sports Ministry said that from July 1, inoculated tourists who have been exempted from quarantine, might be tempted to extend their stay in the country after spending 10 days in Phuket, if airlines can provide them free or discounted air tickets to other provinces.

Tourism and Sports Minister Phiphat Ratchakitprakarn said the ministry had already discussed the plan with Bangkok Airways, the owner and operator of Koh Samui airport, as that island has the potential to attract tourists.

This effort is meant to attract 100,000 foreign tourists during the first three months of Phuket’s sandbox initiative, he said, according to the Bangkok Post.

He added that as Phuket is scheduled to reopen from July, which is the monsoon season for the Andaman Sea, this offer could appeal to tourists who complete the entry procedure in Phuket.

Speaking at a Thai Hotels Association meeting, Phiphat asked hoteliers to join this scheme by offering special packages to tourists who want to spend more than 10 days in Thailand.

He said if the pairing with Koh Samui generates revenue for nearby communities such as Koh Tao and Koh Phangan, other destinations can also implement similar initiatives, such as Pattaya and Chiang Mai.

Thailand has set an ambitious goal to attract some 6.4 million tourists in the final quarter of this year when five more areas — Krabi, Koh Samui, Pattaya, Phangnga and Chiang Mai — join the tourism sandbox.

However, Phiphat said the plan won’t be complete if Bangkok is not included.

“The six tourism provinces in the planned sandbox plus Bangkok generate 80 per cent of tourism revenue.”

He said Bangkok should be the next destination to be added, with a goal to administer 20 million doses by September to ensure a safe reopening for both tourists and local communities.

The plan to let inoculated tourists fly across provinces is being carried out in tandem with the vaccination programme for airline employees, as announced by the Civil Aviation Authority of Thailand earlier this week.

Thai Vietjet (TVJ) chief executive Woranate Laprabang said the Covid-19 jabs for airlines staff will strengthen tourism confidence among foreign and Thai travellers.

He said that TVJ was also engaging in the International Air Transport Association travel pass project.

It expects to try the travel certificate system application on semi-commercial flights from Ho Chi Minh City to Bangkok in June.

Thai AirAsia chief executive Santisuk Klongchaiya said the airline was also ready to offer discounted prices on cross-provincial routes for guests in the tourism sandbox.

The six tourism provinces in the planned sandbox plus Bangkok generate 80 per cent of tourism revenue.