Thousands of hotel bookings cancelled after vaccine measures introduced

Phuket Tourist Association (PTA) advisory president made it known to the public yesterday that at least 1,000 hotel bookings have been cancelled after Thailand decided tourists needed two Covid-19 vaccine doses before entering the kingdom.

The Minister of Transport, Saksayam Chidchob, later confirmed that travellers without a vaccine certification can enter Thailand, but they might be randomly tested at the airport.*

*According to a Notice to Airmen sent to airlines by the Civil Aviation Authority of Thailand (CAAT), unvaccinated tourists may fly to Thailand so long as they have either a letter to prove they have recovered from Covid-19 in the past six months OR a doctor’s letter explaining why they are not vaccinated.

Confusion over whether travellers need vaccination doses to enter Thailand continues.

Saksayam announced on Saturday, January 7, that the entry measures made by the Civil Aviation Authority of Thailand (CAAT) on January 6 will be implemented from between now and January 31.

The CAAT stated that travellers over 18 years old, without Thai citizenship, must present vaccine certification proof that they have had two vaccine shots or a medical recovery certificate from Covid within the past six months (180 days).

Travellers who do not have vaccination certification must present a medical letter explaining why they were unable to obtain a vaccine. Travellers also have to buy Covid health insurance, which covers their whole trip in Thailand and wear a face mask at all times on public transport.

The advisory president of the PTA, Phumkit Raktae-ngam, gave an interview with Thairath yesterday. Phumkit revealed that business owners in Phuket were worried and disagreed with the government’s recent vaccine measures. Travel agencies were also dismayed after promises were made that there would be no new Covid measures introduced.

One English travel agency stated that Thailand should notify the tourism industry well in advance because the majority of their clients had booked holidays on the back of no restrictions and now, they face being turned away.

Phumkit reported that travel agencies from Scandinavian countries had to refund many of their clients who had to cancel trips. German travel agencies also notified the association that their clients had cancelled over 1,000 hotel bookings in Thailand after the new measure was launched.

Russian travel agencies were also affected by the changes. Chartered flights to Thailand with several airlines have now been cancelled.

Phumkit said that the association sent a letter to relevant government departments to suggest a solution that would be best for the Thai economy.

Saksayam acknowledged the problems and agreed that some entry details should be changed because the CAAT could not ban unvaccinated travellers if they have not had an official announcement from the Ministry of Public Health (MOPH).

Saksayam said the former CAAT’s announcement about vaccination entry is suspended for now. So, travellers who do not have a vaccine certification might be required to take a Covid test upon arrival.

Expect more announcements from the MOPH in the coming days.