No need to panic about arrival of Chinese tourists, health experts say
There is no need to panic about the return of Chinese tourists, which will begin on Sunday, four medical experts said on Wednesday.
Their comments follow the imposition of stricter entry restrictions for Chinese tourists in more than 12 countries over concerns about the surge in infections in China after it ended its zero-Covid policy last month. China also announced it was lifting travel restrictions – effective this Sunday – which led to a surge in bookings for overseas flights.
Chinese tourists generate a great amount of revenue for Thailand, said Professor Prasit Watanapa, an adviser to Siriraj Hospital's Faculty of Medicine. "We should not be afraid of them," he wrote on the Department of Disease Control's Facebook page.
The risk of Covid-19 infection can be reduced by wearing facemasks, maintaining social distancing, regular hand washing, and receiving booster shots, Prasit said.
So far, Japan, India, Italy, Malaysia, South Korea, Spain and Taiwan have joined the US in imposing tighter restrictions – including negative Covid-19 tests – on travellers from China.
Beijing has called these restrictions discriminatory. Most countries in Southeast Asia are not imposing stricter Covid-19 restrictions on tourists from China.
Dr Manoon Leechawengwongs, a respiratory specialist at Vichaiyut Hospital, said people had to learn to live with Covid-19.
"We must prepare ourselves by receiving booster shots, wearing facemasks in crowded places, maintaining social distancing, and washing hands regularly," Manoon said.
The virus mutates over time everywhere, not only in China, he said.
Dr Thiravat Hemachudha, head of Chulalongkorn University’s Information Centre for Emerging Infectious Diseases, advised people not to panic about the arrival of Chinese tourists.
The Omicron subvariant that is spreading in China can be found in countries worldwide, he said.
Thailand's Covid-19 prevention measures – having health insurance and taking a Covid-19 test 48 hours before arrival – are appropriate for Chinese tourists, he said.
Dr Chalermchai Boonyaleepun, deputy chairman of the Senate committee on public health, said the Omicron subvariant spreading in China is similar to subvariants in countries worldwide.
Chinese tourists will not trigger the new wave of Covid-19 in Thailand, he said.
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