The Ministry of Tourism and Sports proposes giving visitors free COVID-19 booster injections and preparing for the return of Chinese tourists in 2023.
Tourism and Sports Minister Phiphat Ratchakitprakarn said the ministry will meet with the Ministries of Public Health and Transport on January 5 to explore easing Beijing’s “zero-COVID” policy.
One suggestion from the Tourism and Sports Ministry is for the Public Health Ministry to give free COVID-19 booster doses to visitors from all nations that want to undergo COVID immunization in Thailand.
Given that each tourist in Thailand is estimated to spend 40,000 baht each trip, Phiphat feels that offering free COVID vaccinations to these tourists is financially sustainable for both the country’s tourism business and the broader healthcare condition.
The tourism minister will also suggest that the public health ministry use the remaining COVID vaccines in store to offer booster injections to tourism professionals, while also intensifying its public relations effort to persuade workers to take booster doses ahead of the 2023 tourist season.
