(No Like Yet)
Published on : Saturday, January 16, 2021
Thailand is pitching half a dozen lush green golf courses as state quarantine centers to foreign tourists with the country aiming to gradually reopen its tourism industry.
The Thai government has approved six golf resorts, including three in Kanchanaburi province, where patrons can enjoy the game and roam freely within the premises rather than keeping themselves confined in their rooms during a two-week compulsory quarantine, said the Tourism Authority of Thailand.
The golf quarantine is the latest effort by Thai authorities to attract foreign travelers amid a new wave of Covid-19 infections after earlier offers of special long-stay visas stirred up a lukewarm response. The pandemic has greatly affected Thailand’s tourism industry, which generated more than $60 billion in revenue from about 40 million visitors in 2019, accounting for about a fifth of the nation’s gross domestic product.
Golf aficionados planning trips to Thailand will need visas, medical and travel insurance and a certificate of entry.
The tourism authority said, “Thailand remains a golfer’s paradise even during the Covid-19 pandemic. With fewer players on the links, it is now easier to book tee times, and the pace of play is much faster than ever with less wear and tear over the last year as well.”
The approved resorts include a par-72 course in Mida Golf Club in Kanchanaburi and an 18-hole course at Artitaya Golf & Resort in Nakhon Nayok.
Thailand’s government is aiming to collect $10 in tourist fee from each foreign visitor for starting a new fund for providing insurance cover in case of any accidents or illnesses, said the Tourism Minister Phiphat Ratchakitprakarn.
Tags: Thailand