More Thai airports to be prepared for the arrival of medical tourists

“Currently 1,123 foreigners in specially-prepared hospital quarantine facilities.”

A committee of the Department of Health Service Support, working to bring in international medical tourists at this time and develop Thailand into an international medical hub, has given initial approval to for the opening of 4 more airports, outside of Bangkok, for the arrival of medical tourists.

The director general of the Department of Health Service Support, Tares Krassanairawiwong, has announced that the airports being considered are U-Tapao (serving Pattaya and Rayong), Koh Samui, Chiang Mai and Phuket. The international sections of the airports have been closed since April this year.

Suvarnabhumi (BKK) and Don Mueang (DMK) airports have been open for the entry of overseas, and approved, medical tourists since the start of August.

Now, the committee is now waiting for approval from the country’s Centre for Covid-19 Situation Administration. Thousands of medical tourists have arrived in Thailand since the reopening for approved medical tourists, and there are currently 1,123 foreigners in specially-prepared hospital quarantine facilities. 652 are patients and 471 are their partners or approved travel companions. National Thailand reports that these special medical tourist arrivals have brought in 114 million baht in revenue since the CCSA provided approval for the arrival of international medical tourists.

A CCSA sub-committee has also recently approved the concept of wellness or spa quarantine ,and guidelines are now being prepared to allow a new category of tourists. Meanwhile the Special Tourist Visa is now being rolled out permitting high-spend travellers, from low-risk countries, to arrive for stays of 90 days, renewable twice.