Thailand’s Tourism and Sports ministry will propose that the Public Health ministry organize an inoculation campaign in 5 tourism provinces and discuss the prospect of vaccination passports.

Tourism minister, Phiphat Ratchakitprakarn, said that the ministry has proposed 50,000 doses of COVID-19 vaccines be allocated to people in the tourism businesses in Phuket, Surat Thani, Chonburi, Chiang Mai and Krabi. The priority will be 13,000 employees at the 58 hotels which are being used as alternative local quarantine facilities.

Thailand is following developments in the WHO’s vaccine passport program, as the country needs to prepare measures that will be in line with Thai standards.

Phiphat said, if Thailand can begin the vaccine passport program in 2022, or launch some measures that will allow foreigners to travel to Thailand without having to enter quarantine, the ministry expects to welcome at least 5 million foreign tourists.

Phiphat also said the program, called “Area Quarantine”, will be discussed at the next CCSA meeting. The program allows tourists to spend time in a limited area after 3 days in their rooms. He expects the first group of foreign tourists to enter this program will come from Russia, since there are some Russian tour companies already showing interest.