Tourism Authorities Want All Entry Restrictions To Be Lifted By June 1

Thailand’s tourism officials want to eliminate all entry restrictions for fully vaccinated travelers by June 1. This means there would be no quarantine, Test & Go, Sandbox, and PCR/Antigen Tests upon entering the country.  The Tourism and Sports Ministry has prepared a strategy to progressively reduce restrictions with the goal of eliminating all restrictions by June 1. However, the plan needs to be approved by Covid-19 Situation Administration Centre.

If the daily rate of new Covid-19 infections stays stable throughout the Songkran festival from April 13 to 15, the tourism ministry will proceed with the first step of the strategy and present it to the CCSA. The ministry also adds that one of their plans is replacing the PCR test upon arrival with antigen test kits starting May 1.  Antigen test kits can provide results in minutes and eliminate the requirement for travelers to reserve a room at an authorized hotel to self-isolate while they await their results.

According to Tourism and Sports Minister Phiphat Ratchakitprakarn, suppose this plan on-arrival testing is approved and there is no increase in infection rates, the ministry will submit another proposal to the CCSA to remove all restrictions on fully vaccinated foreign visitors.

Here’s the proposal:

1 April – No pre-departure PCR test for travelers entering Thailand under the Test & Go or Sandbox programs. The CCSA already mentioned that this will take effect on March 18. However, according to a spokesperson, the decision to eliminate the pre-departure test requirement is still pending approval and has not yet been published in the Royal Gazette.

1 May  – The on-arrival Covid-19 test will be converted from RT PCR to Antigen Test Kits or ATK which enables results within minutes and eliminates the mandatory Day 1 isolation in a hotel room.

1 June  – All entry restrictions for fully vaccinated travelers will be removed.

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