TravTalk India Online Magazine
The Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) in collaboration with the public and private sector partners, has introduced ‘Amazing Thailand Safety and Health Administration (SHA)’ certification aimed at elevating the kingdom’s tourism industry standards and developing confidence among tourists.
The Amazing Thailand Safety and Health Administration (SHA) project is a result of cooperation between the Ministry of Tourism and Sports, the Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT), the Ministry of Public Health, the Department of Disease Control, the Department of Health and the Department of Health Service Support, as well as government and private sector organizations involved in the tourism industry. Together they aim to make tourism a part of Thailand’s disease prevention measures and ensure that both Thai and foreign tourists have a positive experience, that they are happy and confident in the sanitation and safety standards of Thailand’s tourism products and services. This can be achieved by combining public health safety measures and establishments’ high-quality service standards to reduce the risk and prevent the spread of COVID-19, as well as improving Thailand’s tourism products and service standards.
The project is TAT’s efforts to continuously place Thailand’s ranking as a prepared and one of the safest destination, to prepare tourism establishments to be ready for the return of tourism as well to offer tourists with new tourism experiences with regards to the new normal post-COVID-19.
Various boards, federations, and associations in the tourism industry are in charge of inspecting the checklist and certifying the result of improving a workplace according to the SHA standards.
Ten types of business can request the SHA standard as follows:
- Restaurants / food outlets
- Hotel/accommodation and convention centres
- Recreation and tourist attractions
- Tourist transport vehicle
- Travel agents/tour operators
- Health and beauty parlours
- Department stores and shopping centres
- Sports stadiums for tourism
- Theatres/cinemas
- Souvenir shops and other stores.
TAT awards SHA certificates assign a serial number to successful entrepreneurs and record it in the database of the list of entrepreneurs who have received the SHA certificate. The TAT can also revoke the SHA certificate if entrepreneurs fail to comply with SHA standards.
SHA provides sanitation and safety standards for tourists. During the re-opening period of establishments or services, tourists and service recipients are asked to provide any suggestions (Post Audit) via the online system provided by TAT, which will be used for further improvement. Establishments will be randomly inspected by the committee.
The names of the SHA certified establishments will be publicised via www.tourismthailand.org/thailandsha. and through the communication channels of TAT’s domestic and overseas offices to build confidence for tourists. Tourism operators and those interested in tourism service providers or wanting to apply to participate in the Amazing Thailand Safety and Health Administration (SHA) programme, can obtain further information https://thailandsha.tourismthailand.org/, or contact E-mail: info@thailandsha.com.
According to a study by Germany-based travel company Tourane, Thailand has topped the list of the world’s safest destinations to visit during the Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic. This was considered based on various criteria including the 14-day notification rate of new COVID-19 cases and deaths per the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC), International Health Regulations score, the population density of the country, hours of sunshine per day for outdoor activities, and flight connections with Germany.
