Long-term foreign residents and foreigners with permanent residences in Thailand stranded overseas will receive priority when seeking to return to Thailand, under strict disease control measures.
The Centre for Covid-19 Situation Administration (CCSA) said the panel will recommend allowing these two groups of foreigners back into Thailand as they have high purchasing power.
Upon arrival, they will still be subject to a 14-day-quarantine, and about 100 of them are ready to return to Thailand and willing to follow the disease control measures.
However, the CCSA will be careful in allowing those returning from countries with high infections back into the country, the CCSA said.
Deputy Prime Minister and Public Health Minister Anutin Charnvirakul on Thursday assured the screening system for returnees is efficient.
They will undergo medical examination before boarding a flight and will be re-checked upon arrival before being placed in state quarantine facilities, the minister said.
However, he has raised concern about migrant workers from neighbouring countries who have entered Thailand illegally without going through disease control procedures.
The public has been urged to keep an eye out and alert authorities about illegal migrants, Mr Anutin said.
Thai Airways will arrange special flights from Denmark, Germany, the UK, South Korea, Japan and Hong Kong to Phuket as part of efforts to support the government's policy to boost domestic tourism after Covid-19 eases.
Flights are expected to begin in November, and the company will operate two flights monthly on each route and will increase flights if demands increase.
Thailand and Singapore have discussed the possibility of reopening travel for businesses.
