‘Eased’ entry measures for tourists come into effect

Phuket officials have been promoting notices issued by Royal Thai Embassies around the world to highlight new measures, which were announced two weeks ago.

To make it easier for tourists to travel to Thailand, travellers are no longer required to provide a negative RT-PCR test within 72 hours of departure.

However, the RT-PCR test requirement on arrival remains unchanged.

The Day 5 RT-PCR test is no longer required. Instead all arrivals can now do an antigen self-test on Day 5.

That is the only requirement eased for tourists who enter under the Sandbox scheme. They must still observe quarantine at their hotel until their first test results on landing have been returned.

The good news for people entering Thailand under the Alternative Quarantine (AQ) procedure, for travellers who are not fully vaccinated, is that the quarantine period for AQ travellers has been reduced to five days.

Under the "eased" measures, all other measures remain unchanged, except that the mandatory COVID insurance required has been reduced from US$50,000 to US$20,000.

All arrivals still need to qualify through the Thailand Pass system. Travellers must also still have a fully paid hotel reservation confirmation for the arrival date which must include a RT-PCR test, ATK test kit and airport pick-up, among other requirements.

For the full list of entry measures under the Test & Go scheme, click here.

For the full list of entry measures under the Sandbox scheme, click here.

For the full list of entry measures under the “Happy Quarantine” scheme, click here.

In addition to the lists of requirements still in effect for people thinking of travelling to Thailand, the Phuket Info Center, operated by the Phuket office of the Ministry of Interior, yesterday reminded travellers that some airlines may require a RT-PCR test or extra documentation before boarding. Travellers must check with the airline on specific requirements prior to boarding.

With the new eased measures in effect, Thai officials have announced that their plan is to have the COVID-19 pandemic downgraded to endemic in three months time, from July 1.

Meanwhile, the number of tourists arriving at Phuket International Airport continues to fall. The Phuket Reopening daily report issued by the Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) yesterday marked just 1,242 arrivals on Wednesday (Mar 30).

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Note: This is not an April Fool’s story

I told potential european Thailand travelers not to trust the Thai 'plans' to downgrade the pandemic in 3 months time to endemic. Wait, till 1 July, and see first before you book for Sept/Oct months. Don't forget China put Shianghai ( 25 M people) in a sudden complete lock down again.
Unknow now about Thailand stands on July 1st. Read BP's:  "Lessons in Pandemic crisis manage...

Correction: Lowered to max US$ 20,000 pay out.

Thai Test & Go-, SandBox-, and Happy Quarantine schemes! Wow! Now great developed semi tourist activities. Please, don;t PCR test before dept of your home country! We like to welcome you in Thailand as 'Covid tourist', to compensate the lost of normal tourism. We lowered the Covid insurance cover from 100,000 to 20,000 Thb, of course with same premium, so bring a full wallet.

Great stupid choice to give more money to quarantaine hotels. No more PCR test before flight and if you are  asymptomatic when you arrive = 5 days expensive quarantaine + the arrival day, so on 10 days holidays you lost big part of freedom. A good advice do you PCR tewt before flight coz last january i was ready to flight  with good health.... but i receive my result for PCR postive. 

Test and go, happy quarantine, Sandbox, ATK, RT-PCR, insurance, quarantine car, and on, and on...  It's still WAY too complicated. COVID is finished. Travelers from developed countries are used to life back to normal at home. Then they look and coming to Thailand and see all this nonsense. No wonder no one's coming.