Thailand aims to woo tourists, scraps pre-travel registration for visitors

Thailand will end a mandatory pre-travel registration for foreigners and extend the service hours of bars and pubs, as the tourism-reliant nation woos global visitors to fuel its economic recovery.

The country’s main Covid-19 task force approved the proposal to scrap the so-called Thailand Pass requirement for overseas tourists, Tourism Minister Phiphat Ratchakitprakarn told reporters Friday. It also backed the easing of outdoor mask mandate from next month because of the decline in virus cases, he said.

“It’s a key step to unlock restrictions for major restoration of our tourism,” Phiphat said. The government expects about 1.5 million international tourists a month for the remainder of this year, up from the previous target of 1…