Published on : Saturday, April 23, 2022

Thailand has announced the end of obligatory Covid-19 tests for vaccinated travelers, as it is in its path to revive its pandemic-hit tourism industry.

Stringent border restrictions indeed helped the kingdom curb infections and deaths in 2020; however, the tourism sector, which had accounted for about a fifth of the country’s economy, was shattered as an aftermath of the pandemic and lockdowns.

Thailand’s Covid-19 taskforce said that from May 1, fully vaccinated visitors wouldn’t need to take a test upon arrival and wait in a hotel room for the results.

Taskforce spokesperson Taweesin Visanuyothin said that authorities will now only require visitors to show proof of vaccination and health insurance coverage of at least $10,000.

Thai Prime Minister Prayut Chan-O-Cha said, “This will propel the economic (recovery) momentum since we are a country that relies quite heavily on tourism.”

However, unvaccinated travelers will either need to provide a negative test result taken within 72 hours of departure for Thailand or go through five days of hotel quarantine and a test.

In early April, Thailand dismissed the requirement for mandatory pre-arrival Covid tests.

Experts are hopeful of around five million international visitors to visit Thailand this year.

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