Thailand fishes for tourists with yacht quarantine perk

BANGKOK — Visitors to Thailand can now while away their mandatory two-week coronavirus quarantine on a yacht, as part of a bid by the government to revive the country’s crucial tourism industry.

The government’s Digital Economy Promotion Agency, along with partners including top telecom group Advanced Info Service, announced the yacht quarantine program on Monday.

This adds to an earlier option of quarantining on a golf course, aiming to bolster a tourism industry that accounts for about a fifth of Thailand’s gross domestic product.

Visitors with a negative coronavirus PCR test will be able to spend the quarantine period on board a yacht or small cruise ship in Phuket, a popular tourist destination hit hard by the pandemic. The program has already begun accepting yachters for a trial run.

Participants are required to wear a smart wristband that monitors vital signs including temperature…