BANGKOK: Thailand announced on Friday itwould abandon its much-criticised pre-registration process forforeign visitors and no longer require face masks to be worn inpublic, responding to a slower COVID-19 spread.

The “Thailand Pass” system, where foreign tourists must seekprior approval from Thai authorities, will be halted from July1, Tourism Minister Pipat Ratchakitprakan told reporters,removing one of the country’s last remaining travel curbs.

Thailand is one of the world’s most popular traveldestinations, but tourism businesses have long complained itsrequirement for foreigners to submit multiple documents - fromvaccine and swab test certificates to medical insurance andhotel bookings - was impeding the sector’s recovery.

Thailand was visited by nearly 40 million people in 2019,but received less than 1% of that number last year, despiteeasing its quarantine requirements.

Though tourism has picked up in recent months, the industryis far from recovering, with huge jobs and businesses losses ina sector that typically accounts for about 12% of Thai grossdomestic product.

The coronavirus task force on Friday also said use of facemasks would from next month be voluntary, but advised people towear them if in crowded settings or if suffering from healthconditions.

Thailand has suffered more than 30,000 COVID-19 deathsoverall, but has largely contained its outbreaks, helped by avaccination rate of more than 80%.