Thailand is once again closing to tourists because of concerns over the omicron coronaviruses variant.
Test & Go program for visitors has been suspended by Thailand.
Thailand's borders were mostly closed to tourists for the better part of 18 months during the Pandemic. Travelers from dozens of countries with the Test & Go program were able to return to Thailand.
Interested travelers need to apply in advance and be tested upon arrival in Thailand. There was a brief requirement for a test result to come back negative. Travelers were free to explore the country at that time.
That is going to change. Thailand will no longer accept applications for its Test & Go scheme until further notice. Travelers who want to visit Thailand can either apply for the Phuket Sandbox or undergo a longerQuarantine.
Thailand is suspending applications.
Those who were approved before can still travel.
The interesting twist is what I at least appreciate compared to how other countries have handled things. Those who have been approved for Thailand's Test & Go scheme can still take their trip. Thailand isn't completely closing its borders, but it isn't taking any more applications for future visitors
Travelers who have already been approved will have to go for a second test in Thailand at no cost to them.
It is very difficult to plan international travel in advance. It is nice to see a country honor a tourism program based on when people apply.
Those who were approved before can still travel to Thailand.
Is the world shutting down again?
I am not a doctor or epidemiologist, but just someone who follows the travel industry and shares my thoughts. It feels a lot like last winter, because of the low case numbers in many parts of the world and the widespread vaccine, but there was so much optimism over the summer. Many countries are once again closing their borders.
I feel like everyone is sick right now, some with a cold and some with coronaviruses. I don't know how many people I know who have the coronaviruses, but they're having very mild symptoms, like a cold for a few days, and that's it. We are seeing 1,300 deaths per day in the US, and things are about to get worse, with many sick people gathering with loved ones for the holidays.
I wonder if we stop saying "oh look, there's a new variant, let's shut our borders" when there is a new variant. I don't have an answer to that question, but here are my thoughts.
coronaviruses isn't going anywhere, as that's how viruses work, and there will be new variants.
If the variant is already in a country, travel restrictions don't do much to stop it, even if you're not closing borders altogether.
Data continues to show that people who are boosted are less likely to get a serious illness than unvaccinated people.
It seems like not much can be done if people don't get vaccine.
My hope is that when there is a new variant approach, it stops.
In travel agreements that only involve certain countries, it is important that everyone in those countries has access to vaccines, as it is virtually everyone in the world.
The coronaviruses pill is being developed to reduce the risk of serious illness, if it works as we hope it will reduce deaths from coronaviruses.
How many more times will the countries be shut down?
The bottom line.
Thailand has suspended applications for its Test & Go scheme. Travelers from dozens of countries were allowed to come. The country is concerned about the spread of the omicron variant. Those who have their Test & Go application approved can still travel to Thailand, but they will need to take a second test in the country, at no extra cost.
What do you think about Thailand's restrictions on tourism?
