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Entering Thailand – hundreds of thousands of tourists in limbo

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Entering Thailand – hundreds of thousands of tourists in limbo

A statement requiring vaccinations to enter Thailand has angered hundreds of thousands of tourists whose plans could be disrupted

The Thai Health Minister’s statement about the need to have at least two vaccinations against Covid-19 to visit the kingdom has caused a flurry of discussions in all social media and thematic platforms for communication.

The situation was exacerbated by the fact that no specifics other than the requirement of two vaccines for entry were given in the minister’s statement. As for the timing of the introduction of the requirements, it is said only that the new rules will be introduced before the arrival of the first flight from China, which is scheduled for January 9.

Tens of thousands of people in Russia and other countries have found themselves in limbo, as they already have paid and often non-refundable air tickets to Thailand, paid hotels, but do not have a single vaccine.

For the most part, people’s opinions can be divided into optimistic ones:

“Tourism makes good money for Thailand, they can’t do that, so the new rules will not be enforced.”

… and pessimistic:

“They screwed everyone in 2020 and didn’t care. They still will.”

It’s hard to say which is the greater opinion, but experience and knowledge of local realities suggest that a decision in principle has already been made and announced, so the new rules will probably be introduced in the next few days.

Thailand’s Ministry of Health has adopted four measures that will apply to all tourists visiting Thailand in January 2023, including tourists from China, after the Chinese government relaxed travel restrictions for its citizens on January 8, according to Thai Public Broadcasting Service.

Thailand’s 2023 rules of entry.

All tourists must receive at least two doses of the Coovid-19 vaccine before arriving in the country.

All visitors must take out health insurance that includes Coovid-19 coverage before leaving for Thailand.

All visitors must wear face masks when traveling in public places and on public transport in Thailand, and submit to rapid antigen tests in case of covid-like symptoms.

Tourists should postpone visiting Thailand if they develop a respiratory illness.

The measures were proposed by the National Committee on Infectious Diseases and approved Jan. 5 at a joint meeting of the Ministries of Health, Transport, Foreign Affairs, Tourism and Sports, the Bangkok Metropolitan Administration and the Office of the Insurance Commission.

Health Minister Anutin Charnvirakul, who chaired the meeting, said he was confident that Thailand was fully prepared to handle the mass arrival of tourists from China and take care of them.

All foreign tourists, including Chinese, will be treated equally, without discrimination, the health minister assured. Because variants of covid spreading in China are similar to those found in Thailand, the virus should not be used as an excuse to discriminate against any nationality, including the Chinese, when visiting Thailand, Anutin said.

The Ministry of Public Health, as the enforcer of the Communicable Disease Act, is ready to make adjustments to existing measures to deal with any future emergency, Anutin assured.

Anutin also said that tourists wishing to be vaccinated while in Thailand can do so, but at their own expense, adding that the Thai government does not have a policy to vaccinate tourists for free.

Deputy government spokesman Traisuri Traisoranakul, meanwhile, said that Thailand’s Ministry of Tourism and Sports has made arrangements to help foreign tourists who contracted the coronavirus while in Thailand, adding that they can call the Tourism Police at 1155, the Tourism Authority of Thailand at 1672 or tourist assistance centers at 021344077 for help or advice.

Tourists who want to continue their journey from Thailand to other countries where those arriving must be screened for covid infections, Traisuri Traisoranakul recommends staying at SHA Plus hotels that have examination services certified by the Thai Department of Medical Sciences.

Updated: Thailand’s aviation regulator has officially notified of changes in arrival rules for foreign travelers age 18 and older. The new requirements will take effect for flights landing in Thailand starting at 1 a.m. local time on Monday, Jan. 9, 2023. For updated entry requirements and a list of vaccines recognized in Thailand.

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