Thailand gears up to welcome back tourists after 18 months of Covid-19 curbs

Hotels, street food carts and tuk-tuks are gearing up for the return of tourists to Bangkok as Thailand prepares to re-open on November 1 to fully vaccinated visitors after 18 months of Covid travel curbs. In a bid to cauterise the haemorrhaging economy, Prime Minister Prayut Chan-O-Cha announced a phased plan for Thailand's re-opening. From November 1, fully vaccinated visitors travelling from more than 40 "low-risk" countries will be allowed to enter with a negative Covid result, retesting again upon arrival.

Hotels, street food carts and tuk-tuks are gearing up for the return of tourists to Bangkok as Thailand prepares to re-open on November 1 to fully vaccinated visitors. Credit: AFP Photo

In a bid to cauterise the haemorrhaging economy, Prime Minister Prayut Chan-O-Cha announced a phased plan for Thailand's re-opening. From November 1, fully vaccinated visitors travelling from more than 40

Government authorities are desperate to revive the sector -- which accounts for a fifth of the economy -- despite Thailand still recording about 10,000 Covid infections a day and the vaccination rate lagging at about 40%. Credit: AFP Photo

The government is hopeful that a plan to phase out tough quarantine rules could lure visitors back to bars and beaches despite the prevalence of the virus. Credit: AFP Photo

The kingdom is expecting the return of at least a million visitors by March and to generate about $30 billion in revenue through 2022, authorities say. Credit: AFP Photo

Bangkok airport conducted a drill ahead of welcoming the first group of vaccinated tourists. Credit: AFP Photo

Airport staff clean the check-in kiosks at Suvarnabhumi International Airport as officials rehearse reopening procedures to welcome the first group of vaccinated tourists without quarantine on November 1, in Bangkok. Credit: AFP Photo

Airport staff pretend to enter Thailand at the new entry lanes at Suvarnabhumi International Airport as they rehearse reopening procedures to welcome the first group of vaccinated tourists without quarantine on November 1, in Bangkok. Credit: AFP Photo

The absence of visitors has left an unmistakable impact on Bangkok's Chinatown, with shuttered shops visible under the glare of neon lights and lines of empty tuk-tuks. Credit: Reuters Photo