The Thai arm of Diethelm Travel Group is calling on the government in Bangkok for a plan to revive inbound tourism following the Covid-19 pandemic.
DMC Diethelm Travel has voiced concern over a lack of clarity for reopening Thailand to international holidaymakers, has urged the government to clarify plans.
The Thai arm of Diethelm Travel Group is calling on the government in Bangkok for a plan to revive inbound tourism following the Covid-19 pandemic.
The company respects that the government’s current guidelines regarding tourism have played a significant role in combatting the spread of COVID-19 within the Kingdom.
Since strict policies were put in place in March, however, the global situation surrounding the pandemic has changed and Diethelm Travel Thailand wishes to open up discussions between government authorities, the TAT and local tourism industry players to begin moving forward.
“We’re grateful for the Thai government’s leadership in controlling COVID-19 but are becoming increasingly concerned over the future of Thailand’s tourism industry, which directly and indirectly affects millions of citizens across the country,” said Stephan Roemer, CEO of Diethelm Travel Group.
“Thailand is regarded as the flagship of Asia tourism and we hope that the Thai government will introduce a plan for reviving international tourism as soon as possible. To continue to keep our valued employees and maintain trust with our overseas partners, we need planning security.”
“We’re encouraged to see that looser travel regulations in combination with careful controls in Europe and East Asia have not led to any sudden increases in virus cases. Instead, they have started to allow the respective regions’ tourism industries to slowly recover and, in turn, protect valuable jobs,” continued Roemer.
By opening up a dialogue and sharing information, the DMC strives to help make it more accessible for foreign visitors to travel to Thailand.
The company has requested more information about the lifting of travel restrictions from Tourism Authority of Thailand governor Yuthasak Supasorn and tourism minister Phiphat Ratchakitprakarn.
On the 2nd June PM Prayut Chan-ocha announced that the forth easing of business lockdowns can’t be rushed and international travel is possible on a bilateral basis. No further details since have been released.
Diethelm Travel Thailand wants to open discussions between government authorities, the TAT and the local tourism industry to begin moving forward.
The move gets the support of Skål International Bangkok. Club President Andrew Wood said, “The Government here in Thailand has done an excellent job in controlling the coronavirus pandemic with only 3,125 infections of which 2,987 have already recovered (96% of total infections) and just 58 deaths. They are to be congratulated. It is encouraging to note that yesterday Thailand recorded no new cases of the coronavirus.”
“As we move into the recovery phase this proactive move by DTG reflects the need to now restart international flights into and out of Thailand to enble international tourists and travellers to return to these shores,” he said.
Andrew J Wood was born in Yorkshire England, he is a former hotelier, Skalleague and travel writer. Andrew has 48 years of hospitality and travel experience. Educated at Batley Grammar School and a hotel graduate of Napier University, Edinburgh. Andrew started his career in London, working with various hotels. His first posting overseas was with Hilton International, in Paris, and he later arrived in Asia in 1991 on Bangkok with his appointment as Director of Marketing at the Shangri-La Hotel and has remained in Thailand ever since. Andrew has also worked with the Royal Garden Resort Group now Anantara (Vice President) and the Landmark Group of Hotels (Vice President of Sales and Marketing). Latterly he has been the General Manager at the Royal Cliff Group of Hotels in Pattaya and the Chaophya Park Hotel Bangkok & Resorts.
A past board member and Director of Skål International (SI), a former National President with SI Thailand and a two time past President of the Bangkok Club. Andrew is the former President of Skål Asia. In 2019, Andrew was awarded SKÅL’s highest award the distinction of Membre D’Honneur.
He is a regular guest lecturer at various Universities in Asia.
