Four new measures adopted for all foreign tourists arriving in Thailand

Thailand has adopted four new Covid-19 measures for all foreign tourists arriving in the kingdom. The Public Health Ministry adopted the measures in response to the Chinese government’s decision to ease travel restrictions on their citizens starting January 8.

According to Thai PBS World, the new measures include:

• All visitors must have received at least two doses of the Covid-19 vaccine before their arrival
• All visitors should take out health insurance coverage, which includes Covid-19, before their departure for Thailand
• All visitors should wear face masks while travelling on public transport in Thailand and public places and take rapid antigen tests if they develop Covid-like symptoms
• Visitors should postpone their visits to Thailand if they develop a respiratory illness

The measures were approved yesterday at a joint meeting between the Transport, Public Health, Foreign Affairs and Tourism and Sports ministries, the Bangkok Metropolitan Administration and the Office of the Insurance Commission.

Anutin Charnvirakul, the Public Health Minister, chaired the meeting and said that he is confident that Thailand is fully prepared to cope with the mass arrival of Chinese tourists. He assured that all foreign tourists, including the Chinese, will be treated equally, without discrimination.

Since the Covid variants spreading in China resemble the variants detected in Thailand, Anutin assured that coronavirus won’t be used as a pretext to discriminate against any nationality when visiting the country. He also said that tourists who want to get vaccinated while visiting Thailand can do so, but it will be at their own cost as the government has no policy to provide free vaccinations to tourists.

Deputy Government Spokesperson, Traisuree Traisoranakul, says that for those foreign tourists who become infected with the coronavirus while in Thailand, they can call the tourist police at 1155, the Tourism Authority of Thailand at 1672 or tourist assistance centres at 02 134 4077 for help or advice.

She recommends that tourists who want to continue their travels from Thailand stay at “SHA Plus” hotels, where they can receive screening services that are certified by the Thai Medical Science Department.

A re-introduction of Covid measures has been seen worldwide, following China’s decision to open its doors. Beijing has seen hospitals overflowing with Covid patients since it relaxed its zero Covid policy which was regarded as one of the strictest in the world.