Thailand
Thailand: Hotels urge open market
Operators oppose the idea of monopolising the foreign tourism market through the Thailand Longstay Company’s management, saying the private sector is better able to handle this market.
Thailand is considering reopening the border for retired tourists in the fourth quarter this year in a designated area in the southern part of the country, said Udom Srimahachota, a committee member of the Thai Hotels Association (THA).
He said the government should instead distribute opportunities among operators equally.
Mr Udom said the company has not been active despite being established for a long time.
The Thailand Longstay Company was established in 2001 by the Thai government and has the Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) as a major shareholder.
The company’s main products are privileges for long-stay guests, such as one-year retirement visas and fast-track immigration services.
He said the government should consider two-year visa grants for long-stay tourists and allocate 10% of leftover budget for a domestic stimulus campaign to subsidise medical expenses.
“If tourists can use medical services from public hospitals while staying at alternative state quarantine [ASQ] sites, they can save money and spend more on tourism,” said Mr Udom.
He said some tourists from Europe want long-stay trips to Thailand during the winter season.
Operators can offer tour packages with more varieties for tourists who have been vaccinated.
Packages can be arranged as a four-month trip, with tourists spending the first two months in Phuket before hopping to other destinations, such as Chiang Mai, said Mr Udom.
“If the tourism package starts from November and runs until next April, we could receive around 2 million tourists from this market,” he said.
TAT governor Yuthasak Supasorn said after the cabinet approves the proposal, long-stay tourists have to register for membership, similar to the Thailand Elite Card, in order to purchase tourism packages to Phuket.
Their trips must be approved by authorities before visiting Thailand.
“The opportunity to welcome international tourists will be opened to everyone in the industry,” Mr Yuthasak said.
“Tourists can use services from both Thailand Longstay Company and local operators.”
He also insisted every foreign tourist has to complete a 14-day quarantine at an ASQ site before travelling around the country.
The number of long-term foreign residents who visited the country last year at six major destinations (Krabi, Chon Buri, Chiang Mai, Phuket, Rayong and Surat Thani) was 146,483, down 43.5% year-on-year, according to statistics from the Immigration Bureau.
Source: https://www.bangkokpost.com/business/1979171/hotels-urge-open-market