The reopening plan for five areas -- Bangkok, Chiang Mai, Pattaya, Hua Hin and Phetchaburi -- faced another setback after the Centre for Covid-19 Situation Administration (CCSA) decided to put off the starting date from Oct 1 to Nov 1. For Pattaya, Hua Hin and Chiang Mai, this was the third postponement from an initial reopening schedule of mid-September, all attributed to a vaccine shortage. "Airlines had started to invest in service maintenance and recruit staff to prepare for new flow of tourists," said Mr Tassapon. In the past few months, authorities could not provide a realistic vaccination plan to provide local communities proper protection. Tourism Authority of Thailand governor Yuthasak Supasorn said the decision by CCSA to reduce the quarantine period to seven days for inoculated visitors will help spur tourism demand upon reopening.

Source: Bangkok Post September 23, 2021 23:26 UTC