15 major companies launched the #OpenThailandSafely campaign on March 2. Its goal is to welcome back tourists by July 1. Top companies spearheading the campaign include YAANA Ventures, Minor Group, EXO, Capella Hotels, and Asian Trails.
The #OpenThailandSafely campaign argues that Thailand should be open to countries that have started their COVID19 vaccination programs including those in Europe and the US. Thailand in 2019 had 39.7 million international visitors that sustained around 8.3 million jobs.
#OpenThailandSafely Campaign
The campaign laid out reasons why July 1 is the right time to open the country to foreign tourists. For starters, this will give enough time for Thai medical authorities to vaccinate workers in the hospitality setting plus the vulnerable sector of Thailand. It will also give enough time for other countries to vaccinate their citizens.
The campaign also argues that this will give enough time for airlines, hotels, and tourism-dependent businesses to promote and market what they can offer. And by then, tourists will be able to prepare and make their plans and bookings.
#OpenThailandSafely also pointed out that Thailand needs to favor the July 1 reopening because the country can expect a year or longer before it gets the same number of foreign tourists it had before the pandemic.
The petition also sets out safety guidelines to allow Thailand to reopen safely. This includes asking tourists to show proof of COVID19 vaccination and/or a negative COVID19 test.
CEO of YAANA Ventures Willem Niemeijer said that this can showcase Thailand’s “leadership role among Asian countries”. He also called it a “way for solid recovery of the Thai economy in 2022”.
Other popular tourist locations are already opening. A good example is Sri Lanka’s protocol that allow tourists to not undergo quarantine. Maldives, on the other hand, also opened its doors to tourists with its safety protocol.
