Thailand turns to golf to reopen tourism
Thailand is turning to golf to tempt foreign visitors as it makes gradual moves to reopen its tourism industry.
The Thai government has certified six golf resorts where foreign visitors can spend their two-week quarantine and freely move around and play golf, rather than needing to isolate in their rooms.
Golf tourists can choose from three resorts in the Kanchanaburi region, West of Bangkok, or from resorts in Phetchaburi, Nakhon Nayok or Chiang Mai.
An announcement from the Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) highlighted the lower volume of players, easy access to tee times and faster pace of play visitors can enjoy as part of their visit.
Selected resorts have already embraced the move, with special quarantine packages being offered to golf travellers.
The move is the latest attempt by Thai authorities to recover from the devastating impact of the coronavirus pandemic. The country relies heavily on inbound tourism, with nearly 40 million visitors in 2019 and around half a million of those travelling for golf.
