Destinations Known | Thailand travel opens up to vaccinated tourists, but who from Asia is visiting? It might just be the Indians
- Tourists from China, Japan, South Korea, Laos and Cambodia still face a variety of hurdles, from mandatory quarantines on return to outright re-entry bans
- But if Thailand can provide a road map towards a safe reopening for the rest of us to follow, it will not have come a moment too soon
It’s official, Thai tourism is back in business. After 18 long and economically arduous months, the Land of Smiles is getting back to doing what it does best – showing international travellers an excellent time.
Since November 1, vaccinated visitors from 63 “low-risk” countries and territories have been able to enter the kingdom without having to undergo quarantine. And while this might be the norm again for those jetting around Europe, on this side of the world the move is pioneering.
Among those allowed in under the new arrangements are tourists from Australia, France, Hong Kong, New Zealand, the Philippines, Taiwan, Britain and the United States.
“Fully vaccinated visitors from other countries will also be allowed to enter, though only through a tourism sandbox programme which is currently in place in 17 provinces,” reported the Bangkok Post on November 1. “They will be required to quarantine for a full week before being able to travel to other parts of the country.” Unvaccinated arrivals can come, too, but they will have to endure isolation at a hotel for 10 days upon entry.
According to the Bangkok Post, “Hotel bookings, particularly by guests from the 63 countries exempted from quarantine restrictions, are increasing, indicating that the reopening is attracting tourists from all over the world.”
