Thailand has progressively pulled back on its Covid entry restrictions, with changes announced every few weeks.
The
latest? The Test & Go entry scheme has been scrapped from 1 May,
allowing fully vaccinated visitors to skip any Covid tests and brief
hotel quarantines upon their arrival in Thailand. However, all visitors
still have to apply for a Thai Pass under the current system.
The
Thai government is now mulling axing the Thai Pass requirement,
beginning with residents before extending the move to foreign arrivals.
Talks have rife about the scrapping of the Thailand Pass as soon as 1 June, although no firm decision has been announced.
The Thai Pass remains in place for all visitors and returnees to
prove their vaccination records as well as insurance plans that would
cover any Covid hospitalisation.
Meanwhile, the Thai government has announced plans to impose a
tourism fee on international arrivals in the second half of the year.
The 300 baht (US$12) fee is set to be collected using the Thailand Tourism Fee (TTF) system implemented by airlines.
The fund will be used to develop tourist sites and offer tourists insurance, according to the Tourism and Sports Ministry.
But in view of the surge of international arrivals into the country
after the removal of Test & Go entry rules, the Thai authorities are
now mulling to push back the introduction of the tourist fee as it may
put off potential holidaymakers
As anywhere else, travel rules remain in a flux, so expect more announcements — and changes — in the weeks to come.