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Thailand offers ‘yacht quarantine’ option for travelers

By PINKY S. ICAMEN Published Mar 10, 2021 8:14 am

There are countries around the world that are slowly opening up for leisure travel. But with the threats of COVID-19 abounding, everyone’s safety is still a priority, which is why strict measures are in place, including mandatory quarantines upon arrival in some countries.

If one chooses to visit Thailand soon, it’s good to note that the country is offering its visitors the option to spend their COVID-19 quarantine on a yacht with a program called “Digital Yacht Quarantine.”

As part of the initiative to boost tourism, Thailand, which has been gradually reopening to since October 2020, will soon allow visitors to quarantine onboard a yacht or a small cruise ship in the waters off Phuket.

Travelers must present a negative PCR test and agree to have their health and location monitored.

While on board the vessel, travelers are required to wear a smart wristband as a health monitoring tool for vital signs, including pulse, temperature and blood pressure. The device can transmit information within a 10-kilometer radius.

The wristband also serves as an emergency device if in case the traveler would need assistance.

Members of the Royal Thai Navy will monitor and track the vessels, and once those onboard have completed their quarantine, they will be allowed to dock and enter the island.

There are no details yet about how much a yacht quarantine would cost but according to BBC, about 100 yachts are already expected to participate once the program sets off, which could bring in 300 to 500 tourists in the country. With this initiative, the Thai government hopes to bring 1.8 billion baht (about P2.8 million) into the country.

Just this year, Thailand also proposed several alternative quarantine options like the golf quarantine program that allows tourists to complete their mandatory quarantine in golf courses, which, for some, may be a better alternative than being cooped up in the four corners of a hotel room or a government-mandated quarantine facility.

This program kicked off with the first round of tourists from South Korea. Packages start at 90,000 baht (about P140,000) that include green and cart fees.