The Thai government has launched a programme to certify tourism-related businesses for their measures to fight the coronavirus as the country eases lockdown restrictions to allow domestic tourism to return.

The "Amazing Thailand Safety and Health Administration: SHA" project launched on Monday allows businesses such as restaurants, hotels, tourist attractions and travel agents to ask for a certificate indicating that their businesses meet the government's health safety standards.
 

The government has eased some virus-prevention measures and allowed people back into restaurants and shopping malls since Thailand's daily number of new coronavirus cases declined to single digits on most days this month.

"However, Thailand is still at risk of being hit by a 'second wave,' which will require continued vigilance and public support for the prevention and control measures," Tourism Minister Phiphat Ratchakitprakan said on Monday.

Tourism is a major earner for Thailand accounting for over 10 per cent of its overall economy.

Thailand saw a 38-per-cent decline in the number of tourist arrivals in the first quarter of the year, officials said.

A ban on international passenger flights is due to remain until the end of June.

Hotels in provinces such as Prachuap Khiri Khan, Kanchanaburi and Korat that are popular among Thai tourists have started to reopen this month, but not without risks.

A recent survey showed that less than 10 per cent of Thai hotels are able to meet the government's health safety standards, according to Udom Srimahachote, the vice president of the association of Thai hotels.