Thailand further eases travel restrictions

Thailand is to further ease travel restrictions from today (Friday)

Travellers who wish to visit the country are now required to stay within their destination for seven nights.

Then they will be able to continue their journey to other parts of Thailand.

A government statement said: “After months of strict travel restrictions due to the Covid-19 pandemic, Thailand is gearing up for a return to normalcy by easing some travel restrictions and quarantine requirements and allowing normal tourists to enter the country.

“The government has introduced Sandbox programmes allowing vaccinated travellers to enter the country without quarantine.

“Starting November 2021, there is a proposal for a Sandbox programme for Bangkok, Chiang Mai, Chonburi (Pattaya), and Hua Hin.”

Details and the official guidelines are due to be announced in the coming days.

A Sandbox initiative in Phuket as seen more than 35,000 tourists visit the destination since July.

Fully vaccinated travellers from eligible countries who are visiting Thailand through the Phuket Sandbox are not required to undergo a mandatory quarantine.

Travellers are required to stay for seven nights in a designated hotel in Phuket only.

International travellers who are unvaccinated or not fully vaccinated will be required to undergo ten days mandatory quarantine in a designated quarantine hotel in Bangkok before they can travel to other parts of Thailand.

Local operator Diethelm Travel said: “The Phuket Sandbox has served as a model to other countries in Asia wishing to reboot their tourism industry.”

According to the company, the new rules cover:

• Seven night stays for international travellers who have been fully vaccinated at least 14 days prior to departure with vaccines approved by the Thai authorities;

• Travellers who are not fully inoculated are required to spend 10 nights under the Sandbox programme approved accommodation depending on the arrival province;

• Children who are not fully inoculated are required to spend 10 nights under the Sandbox programme or approved accommodation depending on the arrival province;

• The number of PCR tests required has been reduced to two – on arrival and on day 6-7;

• All other requirements and processes, including Certificate of Entry (COE) application, remain in place