Travellers In Thailand Can Now Complete Their 2 Week Quarantine On A Private Yacht

Forget quarantine hotels, how does relaxing on a private quarantine yacht sound? 

Thailand’s yacht quarantine plan means that visitors can now spend their mandatory isolation period in the middle of the ocean — a move designed to boost the country’s tourism industry.

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According to BBC News, the plan came into place on Monday, March 8 and intends to bring in around $73 million CAD in yacht tourism revenue.*

Before this, Thailand had offered travellers the chance to complete their mandatory two-week quarantine period on a golf course, too. 

The country relies on the tourism industry heavily but was forced to shut down to visitors in 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Now, as the South East Asian nation prepares to reopen to tourists, it's hoping that the quarantine option could start to bring back some of the 40,000 to 50,000 people that used to arrive daily.

If an eligible visitor has tested negative for COVID-19, they’ll be allowed to spend their quarantine on board a yacht or small cruise ship in Phuket, the BBC reports.

They’ll be required to wear a wristband that monitors temperature and blood pressure and that also has GPS tracking built-in.

It’s pretty different from Canada’s hotel quarantine program, which requires visitors to take multiple COVID-19 tests and stay in one of several government-approved facilities. 

As appealing as two weeks on a private yacht sounds, it’s worth remembering that the Government of Canada continues to strongly advise against all non-essential travel both domestically and internationally.

The prime minister continues to urge Canadians to cancel all upcoming vacations and warns that returning to Canada could be complicated if you go abroad right now.

*This article has been updated.

Before you get going, check our Responsible Travel Guide so you can be informed, be safe, be smart, and most of all, be respectful on your adventure.