Thailand is making it easier to visit, dropping a key hurdle to reaching the beautiful Southeast Asian kingdom, announcing new entry protocols from April 1st, 2022. Passengers won't be required to take a Covid-19 test prior to departure from this date.
There is a very large and intimidating catch which may keep travelers spinning their globes for alternative destinations. If you were going to test positive, you would want to know before you go.
Thailand is dropping pre-departure testing from April 1st, 2022.
The fact that there are three arrival programs, each with different travel requirements, is more complicated than most countries.
A lot of visitor forms and mandatory hotel bookings don't help, but it's better than the 31 step process they started with.
Post arrival testing is not being dropped. Visitors from April 1st onward will be required to take a test with a negative result on the day of arrival and again on the 5th.
Someone could arrive into the country and be immediately isolated.
It makes sense to drop post-arrival testing if someone tests negative prior to departure, but keep a post arrival requirement if they test positive for Covid-19.
Requiring a Covid-19 test prior to international travel made a lot of sense during the earlier stages of the Pandemic, but cases are no longer the metric they used to be.
In response, many countries have simplified things to say that visitors are not required to test before or after arriving. Many countries allow proof of recovery from Covid-19 within a certain window if someone is unvaccinated.
The US will follow Europe in dropping testing requirements for fully vaccined visitors on April 18th. All Covid-19 related restrictions have been dropped by many of these countries.
The latest entry protocols for arrivals from April 1st onward were released by the Tourism Authority of Thailand. Current requirements need to be checked before arriving.
From April 1st, 2022, onward for arrivals into Thailand, here's what's changing.
International arrivals under any of the current three entry schemes – TEST & GO, Sandbox, and Alternative Quarantine (AQ) – will be allowed to enter Thailand without the need to show proof of a negative RT-PCR test within 72 hours of travel.
Points of entry
Air, land, and water points of entry.
Number of approved airports increased from 7 to 8 – Don Mueang, Suvarnabhumi, Phuket, Krabi, Samui, Chiang Mai, U-Tapao, and Hat Yai (new).
Land border checkpoints increased from 3 to 4 – Nong Khai, Udon Thani, Songkhla, and Satun (new)
Water points of entry increased from ports and piers in 2 to 3 provinces – Phuket, Chon Buri, and Surat Thani (new).
Types of vessels also increased from yachts to also cover ships of Thai government agencies, while Thai crew members on cargo ships will also be allowed to enter Thailand.
Testing requirement
Two tests remain in place for the TEST & GO and Sandbox travellers: RT-PCR test upon arrival (Day 0) and an antigen self-test on Day 5.
Sandbox staying period
Reduced to 5 days from currently 7 days. After completing five days within the Sandbox destinations, travellers will be allowed to travel domestically within Thailand.
AQ requirement
Quarantine reduced to 5 days and an RT-PCR test on Day 4-5.Tourism Authority Of Thailand
As health situations improve, it is wonderful to see the world reopen. For the first time in two years, travelers have a lot of choices. That may be bad news for Thailand.
When Thailand was one of a few open countries, people were willing to accept strict entry protocols, but now that many countries allow full vaccinations, there is a lot of admin here.
Thailand is open and easier to visit than it was. The post arrival tests are still an obstacle for those who don't want to be in a foreign country. With Malaysia, Singapore, Vietnam and other gems of Southeast Asia reopening, there is more choice in the region.
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