Travelers and returnees to Thailand can now book quarantine stays via a major online booking service while locals may enjoy more domestic travel benefits.
Finding and booking approved hotels for quarantine at private hotels is made simpler by a special Agoda section launching this past weekend with 37 venues to choose from. Listings are currently found in Bangkok and Phuket from about THB2,500 to THB5,300 per night.
The platform works in 39 languages and will expand to include 113 choices nationwide.
Over a trillion baht has been lost so far this year due to the collapse of tourism. As of September, tourism receipts only added up to THB655 billion (US$21.6 billion), down about THB 1.57 trillion (US$51.8 billion), or 70.57%, from the same period in 2019, according to Tourism and Sports Minister Phiphat Ratchakitprakarn. That included both international arrivals and domestic travel.
For travelers at home, tourism authority governor Yuthasak Supasorn said Sunday that they might further expand a months-old stimulus plan yet again by increasing the amount people can redeem, letting the program run longer and raising its overall cap. They previously discuss to increase the number of days it can be used for.
“I believe people will travel more in the last month of the year because of the long holidays and cooler weather. New Year’s is coming and many provinces are now preparing activities,” Yuthasak said.
No additional funds will be needed as a whopping THB17.44 billion (US$576 million) remains of the program’s original THB22.4-billion (US$740 million) budget.
Expats can now benefit as well. Since last month, foreign nationals can get a THB1,000 rebate for each night stayed at more than 380 participating hotels nationwide. They must book directly with the venues and use the code “Expat Travel Bonus,” then show their passport when checking-in. A total of 5,000 nights have been budget for the campaign through Dec. 31. More information about the venues is available online.
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