Some Hotels Trick Tourists Using Thailand Pass Packages – CCSA

The CCSA is aware that some hotels are deceiving foreign tourists by allowing them to reserve a room without COVID-19 testing and transportation and then attempting to sell them in packages upon their arrival. CCSA spokesman Apisamai Srirangson told reports that some hotels only offer a room despite the fact that Thailand Pass requires transportation from the airport to the hotel and COVID-19 test upon arrival.

Bangkok Post reports that once the unsuspected tourists arrive, they are required to buy a new package or be at risk of being refused to enter Thailand. According to Apisamai, some hotels have intentionally misled foreign tourists and refused to pay a refund if they cancel their reservation.

“Some hotels had packages that included limousine and COVID-19 testing but also allowed visitors to reserve only rooms and seek RT-PCR testing themselves. This shows that such hotels intentionally deceived visitors. Visitors who were unaware of the requirement and bought incomplete packages later had to cancel their reservation and, in some cases, did not receive a refund.”

– Apisamai Srirangson, CCSA spokesperson

On November 1, Thailand reopened its tourism industry to fully-vaccinated foreign tourists from 63 low-risk countries with minimal quarantine. All foreign arrivals must register to Thailand Pass, a system that replaced the highly-criticized COE or Certificate of Entry. Thailand Pass requires all foreign arrivals to provide complete vaccination documents such as a negative PCR test within 72 hours before travel and health insurance with a minimum of 50,000USD COVID-19 insurance coverage. In addition, travelers must book their transportation from the airport and conduct an RT PCR test which will be organized by the hotel

Apisamai told reports that participating hotels have already been informed of all Thailand Pass terms and conditions. Foreign tourists who did not book a limousine service from the airport to their hotel and a second RT PCR test would be denied to enter Thailand.

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SOURCE: Bangkok Post