Majority of Thais oppose lifting tourist ban on virus fears

Bangkok

A MAJORITY of Thais don't agree with the government plan to reopen its borders to foreign tourists, a survey showed, as the nation prepared to receive the first group of visitors in almost seven months.

About 57 per cent of participants were concerned the reopening will increase the risks of coronavirus infections and disagreed with the plan, the poll conducted by Bangkok-based National Institute of Development Administration showed.

The survey of about 1,300 people also found that 62 per cent weren't confident the government can avoid the reemergence of virus once the country reopened to holidaymakers.

The tourism-reliant nation last week unveiled plans to allow a limited number of foreign tourists each month to provide some relief to the industry struggling to survive a six-month period without international visitors.

Prime Minister Prayuth Chan-Ocha's government is seeking a balance between rescuing its tourism sector, which derived two-thirds of revenue from foreign visitors, and maintaining its good track record of managing the virus.

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Thailand's reopening plan has faced several delays, partly due to the concerns of some local groups.

But the government has pushed ahead with the plan to receive visitors with a 14-day mandatory quarantine, although tourism businesses said the requirement would exclude most travellers hoping to visit the country.

"If we don't start now, we would continue to have all these economic problems," Mr Prayuth said on Wednesday, adding that details are being ironed out to curb infection risks.

"It's all part of the chain. Without tourists, hotels would close and there'd be less consumption. What are we going to do? We'll all be poor."

Even the supporters of government plan to issue long-term visas to foreigners said there must be effective measures in place to prevent spread of virus.

The random survey was conducted from Oct 1-2 and has a confidence level of 97 per cent, the institute said in a statement. BLOOMBERG