Thailand has announced that while several groups of foreigners were allowed into the country from July 1, this did not yet include tourists.
Lesley Simpson, md of Lesley Simpson Communications (SA representative of the Tourism Authority of Thailand), told Travel News that she did not have an exact date for when tourism would open.
The Bangkok Post reported that a ‘travel bubble’ plan for leisure travellers had been drafted, with three phases for opening. The first envisages the capping of the number of international tourists at 1 000 per day nationwide, without a 14-day quarantine, starting in August. According to the report, the draft requires approval from the Public Health Ministry and calls for Thailand to offer a bubble scheme to low-risk countries (meaning free from the pandemic for 30 days, according to the World Health Organization). Three countries fall into this category: China, Japan and Taiwan.
According to a release from the Tourism Authority of Thailand, the following travellers are permitted to enter:
*Thai nationals.
*Persons with exemption or persons being considered, permitted, or invited by the Prime Minister, or the head of responsible persons accountable for resolving state of emergency issues to enter the Kingdom, as necessary. Such consideration, permission or invitation may be subject to specified conditions and time limits.
*Non-Thai nationals who are a spouse, parents, or children of a Thai national.
*Non-Thai nationals who hold a valid certificate of residence, or permission to take up residence in the Kingdom.
*Non-Thai nationals who hold a valid work permit or are allowed to work in the Kingdom, including their spouse or children.
*Carriers of necessary goods subject to immediate return after completion.
*Crew members who are required to travel into the Kingdom on a mission, and have a specified date and time for return.
*Non-Thai nationals who are students of educational institutions approved by Thai authorities, including the parents or guardians of the students.
*Non-Thai nationals who need medical treatment in Thailand, and their attendants. However, this does not include medical treatment for COVID-19.
*Individuals in diplomatic missions, consular affairs, international organisations, government representatives, foreign government agencies working in Thailand, or individuals in other international agencies as permitted by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, including their spouse, parents, or children.
*Non-Thai nationals who are permitted to enter the Kingdom under a special arrangement with a foreign country.
