With news that many countries in Europe are reopening to tourism in time for summer, travelers with their sights set on Asia are anxiously awaiting word on when they’ll be given the green light to visit their favorite destination. As of now, those with Thailand in mind will need to wait at least a few more months before packing their bags.“It is still dependent on the outbreak situation, but I think at the earliest, we may see the return of tourists could be the fourth quarter of this year,” Yuthasak Supasorn, governor of the Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT), said.

And even then, he says, there will likely be restrictions on who can visit and where they can go. “We are not going to open all at once,” he adds. “We are still on high alert, we just can’t let our guards down yet. We have to look at the country of origin (of the travelers) to see if their situation has truly improved. And lastly, we have to see whether our own business operators are ready to receive tourists under the ‘new normal’.” Basically, a country will open borders with destinations that also have their coronavirus(新冠病毒) situation under control. Once Thailand does open to international tourists, they’ll likely only be able to visit certain spots, says Yuthasak. “We have studied a possibility of offering special long-stay packages in isolated and closed areas where health monitoring can be easily controlled -- for example, Koh Pha Ngan and Koh Samui. This will be beneficial for both tourists and local residents, since this is almost a kind of quarantine(隔离).”

Yuthasak says they’re finishing up a framework to restart tourism, but baby steps are needed to relight international tourism. “The next step is bilateral agreements between countries,” he says. “Thailand’s good standing in the face of the crisis with China, along with strong demand, make it a logical short-term solution for overseas tourism to return to the Kingdom.” For now, Thailand isn’t taking any chances and the country’s borders are firmly shut.

Four best secret beaches in the Caribbean

Spotts Beach, Grand Cayman

Surrounded by cliffs, this picturesque beach on Grand Cayman is excellent for seeing sea turtles, and its location – the south coast of the island – makes it perfect for watching the sunrise and set. Best of all, there’s limited parking and only a few homes nearby, so you won’t be climbing over sunbathers, nor will you be competing for space at the picnic tables or grills.

Little Bay, Anguilla

When you have to climb down a rope along a cliff to get there, you know it’s a secret beach. But that’s precisely the adventure it takes to enjoy the quiet nature of Little Bay. While accessing it may be a bit of an upsetting experience, once you get to the white sandy beaches with no crowds, you’ll be glad you did. We guess we should mention you can take a hired boat here, too.

La Sagesse Beach, Grenada

Clear water and soft sand are two of the many reasons people seek out this peaceful, palm tree-dotted slice of the Grenada coastline, which has but a single hotel. You can rent beach chairs and boat, and be sure to explore the tropical gardens of the La Sagesse Nature Center, located less than a mile down the road. Book a private villa right near the beach or choose a nearby hotel like 473 Grenada Boutique Resort.

Gold Rock Beach, Grand Bahama

Referred to as a “welcome mat” during low tide because you can sit on the sand bar, Gold Rock Beach is part of the Lucayan National Park, which you have to walk through to get to the sandy shores. You’ll only see a couple of other beachgoers at this hidden diamond in the Bahamas, and you can explore Lucayan’s underground caves nearby – that is, if you can tear yourself away from the sunshine.