Thailand considers easing entry regulations for international visitors

According to current regulations, foreign tourists who want to enter Thailand must apply for an entry code (Thailand Pass), which requires people entering the country to have a negative PCR test within 72 hours before entry; at the same time, a PCR test is required on the first day of entry and an additional rapid test on the 5th day of stay.

From May 1, the Ministry of Sports and Travel to Thailand (MoTS) will consider a proposal to allow travelers to enter Thailand if they have negative RT-PCR test results for SARS-CoV-2 within 72 hours before entry.

However, MoTS will base on the development of the epidemic situation in this country to consider and make a final decision.

Accordingly, to continue to push the Thai cabinet to approve the above proposal, the number of new infections per day according to rapid test results in this country must not exceed 60,000 cases, the number of deaths per day should not exceed 100. people. MoTS will also propose to end the Test and Go and Thailand Pass programs from June 1 to revive the tourism sector.

Thailand is considering easing entry regulations into the country. (Photo: AP)

MoTS sets a target of 50% recovery in 2023 and 100% of tourism industry in 2024. According to the above target, Thailand’s tourism industry will regain its position as the world’s top destination. The agency expects that the Golden Temple country will welcome about 7 million visitors in 2022, generating at least 1,000 billion baht ($33 billion), equal to 30% of the total tourism revenue of 2019.

Previously, on March 24, the Department of Health Services under the Ministry of Health of Thailand signed a contract with Pfizer pharmaceutical company Thailand branch to order 50,000 courses of Paxlovid drug to treat COVID-19 patients. in the risk group.

Paxlovid was approved by the Food and Drug Administration of Thailand on January 28 and approved by the cabinet before the contract with Pfizer was signed on March 24. The drug is expected to arrive in Thailand in early April before being distributed to provincial hospitals across the country.

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