Thailand continues to ease travel barriers

According to Thailand’s Ministry of Tourism and Sports, the cancellation of registration for the Thailand Pass can take place as early as June 1. With the suspension of the Thailand Pass, tourists will return to using the entry form TM6 to declare the vaccine.

The previously anticipated end date of the much-debated July 1 could be a month earlier if the Center for Covid-19 Situation Administration accepts the proposal from the Minister of Tourism and Sports, Phiphat Ratchakitprakarn.

Although the Test & Go and Sandbox programs end at the end of April, the actual Thailand Pass remains. Travelers are required to upload their passport details, vaccination information and proof of payment for their Covid insurance, worth $10,000. They then have to wait for approval.

While the move to eliminate a lot of paperwork has been welcomed by tourism operators and hotels in Thailand, the digital gate of Thailand Pass is still seen by many travelers as a bureaucratic barrier, who would welcome ditching the online pre-registration process entirely.

According to the report of Bangkok Post, Mr. Phiphat Ratchakitprakarn said Thailand’s Minister of Public Health, Anutin Charnvirakul, has agreed to give up the Thailand Pass. However, any such move would of course still need the approval of the Thai Government’s Center for Handling the Covid-19 Situation (CCSA).

“If the infection rate due to the Omicron variant drops from June 1, the remaining travel regulations must be cleared when the country is about to declare Covid-19 as normal,” said the Minister of Tourism. and Sports Thailand said.

Mr. Phiphat Ratchakitprakarn said that once the Thailand Pass expires, international visitors must record their vaccination certificate details on the entry form TM6 (distributed on the plane). After that, the responsibility of checking the health of incoming passengers will fall to the immigration officers.

In related news, the 300 baht travel fee is back, with a proposal to be put before the Cabinet in the next few weeks. Fees are expected to be implemented within 3 months. Mr. Phiphat said that, if the Covid-19 insurance claim is rescinded, the travel fee can be used as a form of insurance for tourists and will cover the cost of treating Covid-19 patients with symptoms. mild symptoms.