The lessons learned from Phuket which has led the way in reopening to foreign visitors since July 1, followed by Samui Plus two weeks later, have encouraged Pattaya to follow in their footsteps. Not quarantine-free travelRattanachai Suttidechanai, chairman of the Pattaya Business & Tourism Association, said provincial standard operating procedures (SOPs) including guidelines for inbound tourists are complete. Despite the SOPs and the sealed route programme, there are concerns in the business community about Covid-19's spread linked to the PMO scheme, he admitted. Good planning the keySuwannachai Wattanayingcharoenchai, chief of the Department of Health, said that unlike Phuket, Pattaya is not an island where controlling virus transmission is easier. Still, to reopen for foreign tourists, Pattaya needs more effort to make sure the city will be safe after reopening.

Source: Bangkok Post September 04, 2021 22:41 UTC