Thailand will fully open to vaccinated Americans as well as those from China, Singapore, Germany and six other countries starting November 1. Travelers from additional countries will be welcomed starting December 1. Previously visitors could only enter – and had to remain in – designated resort places in the country such as Phuket. This re-opening is broader than the previously-announced 9 regions of the country expected to open at that time.
- This will be available to vaccinated travelers only
- With a required pre-departure PCR test
- And an additional test in Thailand
There will be no quarantine required. And the government “will also consider allowing restaurants to resume the sale of alcohol from Dec. 1.” According to the country’s Prime Minister,
“All that visitors will need do is to show that they are Covid-free at their time of travel with an RT-PCR test undertaken before they leave their home country, and do a test in Thailand, after which they will be free to move around Thailand in the same way that any Thai citizen can do,” Prayuth said.
…“We will have to track the situation very carefully, and see how to contain and live with that situation because I do not think that the many millions who depend on the income generated by the travel, leisure and entertainment sector can possibly afford the devastating blow of a second lost new year holiday period,” Prayuth said.
Approximately one-third of the country has been fully vaccinated (though those who received Chinese vaccines are in many cases in search of boosters) and about half the country has received at least one shot of a vaccine.
While pre- and post-testing in addition to proof of vaccination is a hurdle, this is a far cry from requiring visitors to wear tracking monitors, staying away from Thai residents, and being “followed 24/7 by Covid imnders” let alone the even more ridiculous scheme that not a single person even applied for.
(HT: Drew J.)
Gary,
“Fully open” and “pre- and post-test” are two different things.
Fully open is fully open. Jump on plane, fly, clear passport/ customs, enter country.
Testing requirements are NOT fully open.
Big middle finger to the testing hysteria. Testing = not open.
There must be incredible economic pressure to ease restrictions before the Christmas / New Year holiday. Hopefully other countries in Asia follow this lead.
This is NOT completely accurate. What you have reported is PROPOSED !! It still must be approved by the CCSA (composed mostly of Thai physicians) and by the Prime Minister. The CCSA is scheduled to meet on this on October 15, and they may amend this. And it is still possible that the first week in Thailand May require a stay at an SHA+ hotel (quarantine hotel), with restricted movement.
This story MAY be what is done when November 1 arrives, or it may change.
And remember: alcohol still cannot be sold in any establishment (bars, restaurants, etc.), except in very narrowly-defined places such as in Phuket (in the “Sandbox”) or Krabi.
Thailand is still far from the vacation paradise that we remember, and long for !!
EdSparks58
Um.
No thanks…
You can get great pad see ew right here in America although probably not in racist rural areas. Stick to major metros and no need to travel all the way to Thailand where you are at risk of vaginitis even if you are a man.
I’ve watched Thailand flip flop on what is required for quite some time and they will say anything to ensure they don’t lose another tourist season. It’s a bait and switch. Make local economies that rely on tourism feel better, convince unsuspecting tourists to come visit and have draconian local policies that make a fun vacation untenable
It is not fully open if you HAVE to apply and obtain the COE (Certificate of Entry into Thailand) which has its own hurdles!
Glad to forgo quarantine. The rest of the requirements are easy. Quit whining!