More than 100,000 people have booked trips to Thailand since the country reopened to international tourism two weeks ago, Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha said yesterday.
Speaking at the 2022 Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (Apec) meeting, which was hosted by New Zealand last week, Gen Prayut said no one wants to see the country bring back lockdowns and Covid-19 restrictions, as the country is finally on the road to recovery after the pandemic-induced slump.
"Our health and safety is the result of a coordinated action. Without a concerted effort, we won't go anywhere," he told locals in Krabi.
The prime minister said the decision to reopen the country on Nov 1 didn't come without risks, but thanks to everyone's efforts, the country's reopening was a success.
More than 100,000 people have booked trips to Thailand so far and a million more are likely to follow suit in the near future, he said.
In his speech, Gen Prayut took aim at vaccine hesitancy, saying as the country is no longer experiencing a jab shortage, there is no more reason to put off getting inoculated.
If people continue to put off getting their jabs, Thailand will miss many more opportunities that come with the reopening, he said.
Government spokesman Thanakorn Wangboonkongchana, meanwhile, said an average of 2,000-3,000 foreign visitors have been arriving daily since the reopening.
The spokesman said more than 18 million visitors are expected to come to Thailand next year, injecting more than 880 billion baht into the kingdom's economy.
Also yesterday, Deputy Public Health Minister Sathit Pitutecha said next year's Songkran festivities may be allowed to take place if the public continues to comply with public health and safety guidelines.
