Don't rush to reopenIn an attempt to revive tourism, the government came up with a plan to reopen the country to foreign visitors under the so-called Phuket model, which was, at best, cautiously welcomed by businesses. He suggested the government delay reopening the country to foreign tourists for at least six months. Despite a series of state-driven campaigns, the number of local tourists in July was 27% lower than the same period last year, according to the EIC. The lack of clarity about the Phuket model has already been blamed for a surge in hotel cancellations by local tourists, citing concerns about Covid-19. The government cannot afford to ignore the grassroots' view and must work with locals if it decides to reopen the country to foreign tourists.

Source: Bangkok Post August 30, 2020 23:15 UTC