Thailand to Eliminate COVID Entry Restrictions for Travelers in October - Dinogo

Thailand will join an increasing list of nations—including Japan, Canada, and New Zealand—that are eliminating COVID-related border restrictions this autumn.

As of October 1, this Southeast Asian nation will no longer mandate travelers to show their vaccination status or present a negative COVID-19 test for entry.

Why the change now?

This decision coincides with the announcement that Thailand’s Public Health Ministry plans to reclassify COVID-19 from a dangerous communicable disease to an infectious disease that is under monitoring.

Thailand has taken a thoughtful approach to its reopening, initially welcoming international travelers to just the island of Phuket in July 2021 as part of a “sandbox” initiative, which allowed guests to freely explore the island during a 14-day quarantine before they could venture into the rest of the country.

In November 2021, tourists who were fully vaccinated were permitted to enter, provided they presented a negative COVID PCR test and took another test upon arrival. However, stricter measures were reinstated in December 2021 due to a surge in cases driven by the omicron variant. Throughout 2022, Thailand has gradually lifted restrictions. Currently, travelers must present either proof of vaccination or a negative PCR test taken within 72 hours prior to departure.

Thailand’s vast and profitable tourism sector, which makes up 20 percent of the nation’s economy, was severely impacted by local and global efforts to curb the pandemic. Nevertheless, this year has seen a partial recovery, with 5.2 million visitors, although this is still significantly lower than the nearly 40 million in 2019.

The Associated Press contributed reporting.