From May 1, anyone wishing to visit Thailand can do so without going through quarantine, provided they are fully vaccinated. The news came as Thailand joins many other countries in the region to open its borders.
The new rules, announced by the Center for COVID-19 Situation Administration, require all visitors to register with an online ‘Thailand Pass’ system and provide proof of health insurance with coverage of at least $10,000 for COVID-19 treatment before coming into the country. That would mean travellers will no longer need to book a one-night hotel room to obtain visas.
Unvaccinated travellers will still need to provide proof of negative PCR test results taken no more than 72 hours before their arrival.
“Many countries have already eased their restrictions,” Thai Prime Minister Prayuth Chan-Ocha said Friday. “We are a country that relies on the tourism industry, especially during these times. This will help move the economy forward.”
Thailand is counting on the return of tourists to stimulate an economic recovery that is already facing headwinds triggered by the Russian invasion of Ukraine. Southeast Asia’s second-largest economy joins countries from Singapore to Australia and South Korea in easing travel and business restrictions after two years of border controls.
The relaxation of entry rules “will boost our tourism,” Prime Minister Prayuth Chan-Ocha told reporters. “We will need to rely on tourism significantly during this time to ensure our economic recovery.”
The outlook for tourism still remains tentative, with 4 to 5 million visitors expected this year, wrote Tim Leelahaphan, a Bangkok-based economist at Standard Chartered Plc. For him, it should still help the country post a current account surplus of 0.5% of gross domestic product.
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