Yuthasak Supasorn, governor of the Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT), is urging tourism businesses to guard against Covid-19 infections in preparation for the return of Chinese tourists.
According to the Bangkok Post, Yuthasak said staff on the frontline, such as hotel receptionists, drivers and tour guides, should get a booster shot.
Hotels, restaurants and tour operators are also reminded to strictly comply with Safety and Health Administration (SHA) standards, he said.
Government spokesman Anucha Burapachaisri said on Sunday that prime minister Prayut Chan-o-cha had instructed the Tourism and Sports Ministry and the Public Health Ministry to come up with measures to ensure the health and safety of the public as foreign arrivals swell this year.
While TAT had initially set its foreign arrivals target for 2023 at 20 million, China’s reopening announcement in December has led the bureau to raise its expectations to 25 million.
China will resume ordinary passports applications for tourism on January 8.
Anucha expects some 300,000 tourists from China to arrive in the first quarter of this year.
