Thailand Reinstates Mandatory Quarantine for Travelers, Yet Christmas Remains Bright for Many Vacationers

All new arrivals in Thailand must now undergo a minimum seven-day quarantine, regardless of vaccination status, as reported by Reuters.

These new regulations follow the confirmation of Thailand's first case of the omicron variant on December 20.

Previously, tourists entering the Southeast Asian nation were only required to present a negative test upon arrival as part of the "Test and Go" program, which was introduced last month in a bid to revive a tourism sector devastated by the pandemic.

However, with the omicron variant spreading rapidly worldwide, the Thai government has opted to discontinue this program just two months after its launch. Now, anyone not already enrolled in the scheme will face a quarantine period of seven to ten days starting the moment they land.

Travelers will also be required to undergo regular PCR tests throughout their stay.

On a positive note for the 200,000 ticket holders already registered for these programs, they will still be eligible to participate.

"This is not an attempt to close the door on tourists, but rather a temporary pause on arrivals," officials clarified.

"Starting December 22, the Thailand Pass website will no longer accept new applications for the Test and Go and Sandbox programs, except for the Phuket Sandbox," states the Foreign Office website. "If you already have your Thailand Pass QR code, you can still enter Thailand under the scheme you registered for."

Nonetheless, this decision is another setback for many winter sun-seekers planning their trips. Officials have also put a halt to the "sandbox" scheme, which previously allowed visitors to explore designated areas freely, provided they stayed near their accommodations.

Currently, the sandbox scheme is limited to the party island of Phuket, where it was first introduced.

This update follows the recent announcement that British Airways has suspended all direct flights to Bangkok until October 2022 as part of a pandemic-driven "reduced and dynamic schedule."