Thailand has launched a scheme to offer visitors up to USD 14,000 (HKD 109,513) in medical coverage in the event of an accident, the tourism minister said on February 15, as the kingdom seeks to lure travellers back after the pandemic.
The government will cover expenses up to THB 500,000 (HKD 108,554) and pay compensation of up to THB one million (HKD 217,108) in case of death under the new scheme.
Thailand will be offering tourists medical coverage
Travel restrictions during the COVID-19 pandemic hammered the kingdom’s vital tourism sector and arrivals have not bounced back as quickly as officials hoped. Tourism minister Sudawan Wangsuphakijkosol told AFP the new Thailand Traveller Safety scheme began on January 1 and will run until August 31.
“The campaign aims to assure foreign tourists that Thailand is safe and everyone will be under good care,” she said. The kingdom has long been popular with young backpackers from around the world seeking sun, sand and adrenalin.
But accidents are not uncommon and there have been numerous reports in recent months of young Europeans finding themselves facing big medical bills with inadequate insurance. The Thai government stresses that the scheme will not cover accidents caused by “negligence, intent, illegal acts” or risky behaviour.
Tourists can register for the scheme through the Thailand Traveller Safety website at tts.go.th.
Some 28 million people visited Thailand in 2023, up from 11 million the year before, but still well down from the 40 million who came in 2019, the last year before the pandemic.
Officials are hoping to hit 35 million visitors in 2024, with a target of USD 55 billion (HKD 430,232,825,000) in revenue.
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(Feature Image Credit: LILLIAN SUWANRUMPHA/AFP)
All currency conversions were done at the time of writing
This story was published via AFP Relaxnews
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