As travel restrictions begin to ease across the country, the government has revealed that it plans to only initially allow a small number of international arrivals in, such as business travellers and medical tourists, and is looking to target travellers that would head to the luxury destinations in Phuket, Samui, Phangan and Phi Phi.

Visitors will be allowed to travel ‘freely’ on the small islands and to other Thai destinations once the 14-day quarantine period has passed. This will likely be trialled between November to February, when European and American travellers seek out warmer climates, Tourism Minister Phiphat Ratchakitprakarn said.

“One person can easily spend as much as five by staying at the finest hotels,” he added. “If we don’t use this chance to create the most benefit for the industry, Thailand will lose out. This is an opportunity to reset the entire tourism system.”