The Test & Go and Thailand Pass program may be canceled from June 1, if the number of infections or deaths from Covid-19 does not increase during the Songkran festival.
Tourism and Sports Minister Phiphat Ratchakitprakarn said he would petition the government to remove the Thailand Pass for visitors entering from June 1, bringing the entry regulations "back to normal, like 2019". This move is aimed at stimulating demand for the tourism industry.
If approved by the government, international visitors do not need to apply for a pass through Test & Go or Sandbox. "We are like a hare, running faster than everyone else. How can we avoid being embarrassed when we are overtaken by a turtle? The goal of Thailand tourism is to become a global leader" , Mr. Ratchakitprakarn said.
The minister added that, after the Songkran holiday (April 13-15), the ministry continued to propose to the government to abolish PCR testing when coming to international visitors from May 1, and replace it with rapid testing by staff. medical implementation. However, the condition for easing epidemic prevention regulations is that the number of daily infections does not exceed 60,000 and the number of deaths does not exceed 100.
Dancers at Erawan Temple, Bangkok wear masks when performing for tourists. Photo: Tran Dang Dang Khoa
Currently, international visitors still have to undergo PCR testing on the first and fifth days after entering Thailand. Before that, travelers had to present a negative PCR test result within three days before their flight. Thailand is also expected to drop the requirement for a certificate of Covid-19 negative from April 1.
Thailand is running a Test & Go program for international visitors (including Vietnam). Visitors are required to obtain a Thailand Pass by accessing the Thailand Pass website, selecting Non-Thai, selecting Test & Go, submitting a portrait, vaccination certificate, insurance scan, hotel booking certificate.
Previously, this country hoped to welcome 10 million visitors in 2022, but the Omicron mutation and Russia-Ukraine tensions make the actual number likely to only reach 7 million. Mr. Ratchakitprakarn pointed out that the tourism industry's revenue this year is estimated at 30% compared to 2019, and could increase by 50% next year before fully recovering in 2024.
