Foreign tourists are eligible for coverage if they have valid passports and must be visiting Thailand between 1 January – 31 August 2024 with a tourist visa or for the purpose of tourism only.
Key Takeaways
- Thailand has introduced a new scheme offering up to US$14,000 in medical coverage to reassure foreign tourists and boost its tourism sector after the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic.
- The Thailand Traveller Safety scheme will cover medical expenses and compensate up to 1 million baht in case of death, aiming to provide assurance to visitors about their safety while in the country.
- Despite a significant increase in tourist arrivals in 2023, Thailand is still striving to recover its pre-pandemic tourism levels and aims to attract 35 million visitors in 2024, with a revenue target of US$55 billion.
The scheme, called Thailand Traveller Safety, offers coverage for expenses up to 500,000 baht and compensation of up to 1 million baht in case of death. The initiative, running from January 1 to August 31, seeks to assure foreign tourists of their safety while visiting Thailand. However, it does not cover accidents caused by negligence, intent, illegal acts, or risky behavior.
The Ministry of Tourism and Sport (MOTS) and the National Institute of Emergency Medicine (NIEM) under the Ministry of Public Health have allocated 50 million Baht to provide medical funding for foreign tourists in the event of accidents while traveling in Thailand. This funding is sufficient to cover the medical expenses of up to 100 tourists, with a limit of 500,000 Baht per individual.
The country’s tourism sector was severely impacted by the pandemic, with a significant decrease in visitor numbers, and the government is aiming to attract 35 million visitors and generate US$55 billion in revenue in 2024.
