Tourists planning Thailand holidays can now opt to spend their two-week quarantine period aboard a yacht - as long as they're willing to wear a tracker.
The new scheme would allow visitors to spend their isolation on a yacht, and then once the 14 days are up, they could enter Phuket provided they test negative for Covid-19.
Under the scheme, visitors would need to wear a smart watch health tracker which would give Thai medical officers information such as their blood pressure and body temperature, as well as their location.
It's worth noting that travellers would have to cover the cost of their quarantine, although it's not yet clear how much a yacht quarantine would cost.
The Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) hopes that the new scheme will attract more tourists, with hopes that around 100 yachts will take part in the project.
The country's tourism industry has taken a huge hit during the pandemic. According to the country's Digital Economy Promotion Agency (DEPA), in 2020 Phuket lost tourism income of approximately £7billion.
Earlier this month the country's tourism minister Phiphat Ratchakitprakarn revealed that he is proposing a plan that would allow travellers to spend their 14-day quarantine in popular areas such as beach resorts, allowing them to leave their hotel room after the first three days (although they would have to stay in the hotel for the quarantine duration).
Similar schemes, dubbed 'resort bubbles' have already been launched in some other holiday hotspots.
For example, the Caribbean island of Anguilla offers quarantine hotels where tourists can leave their room during quarantine and explore the beach, restaurant and other facilities, as well as being able to visit other hotels and beaches under the scheme.
Meanwhile the Hawaiian island of Kauai offers a similar programme although guests are not allowed to leave their resort and have to agree to being monitored and wear a bracelet with a GPS tracking device during their stay.
At the time of writing, there's a ban on international travel for Brits and it's illegal to go abroad for a holiday. Anyone travelling will need to provide proof of a valid reason - such as work or health - for doing so.
Thailand has reopened its borders to foreign visitors, with a mandatory 14-day quarantine in place.
The Foreign Office explains: "All travellers entering Thailand will be subject to a 14-day state quarantine at a Thai government-designated facility at your own expense. If suspected of carrying COVID-19, you may be denied entry into the country."
You can find out more in the Foreign Office's Thailand travel advice.
What do you think of the yacht quarantine idea? Let us know in the comments below.
