Over 23,000 apply for Thailand Pass under ‘Test and Go’ on first day of its resumption

A total of 23,660 travellers applied for a Thailand Pass to enter the country through the “Test and Go” quarantine exemption scheme yesterday (Tuesday), the first day the scheme resumed after registration was suspended on December 22, following the emergence of the COVID-19 Omicron variant.

Government Spokesman Thanakorn Wangboonkongchana said today (Wednesday) that he expects more travellers to apply to visit Thailand under the program in the future. About 5,500 others also registered for the pass yesterday for other entry options such as the sandbox, and alternative quarantines.

He said Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha has instructed all relevant agencies to be prepared to deal with the arriving travellers and to make sure that all the necessary safety measures are in place and strictly enforced, to prevent possible spread of COVID-19.

Thanakorn also said that the government is determined to promote wellness and culture-related tourism to create jobs for Thai people, to enable them to make a living.

Under the “Test and Go” program, travellers are only required to stay in a government-approved hotel on the day of arrival and on the 5th day in Thailand for the two RT-PCR tests required.

Unless officially resident in Thailand, travellers are also required to have insurance coverage of no less than US$ 50,000, certification of vaccination, except for travellers under 18 travelling with a parent or a guardian, a negative RT-PCR test result issued no more than 72 hours prior arrival, except children under 6 with a parent or a guardian, written confirmation of pre-paid accommodation and the pre-paid bookings for two further COVID-19 tests in Thailand.

Source - ASIAN NOW

VISA AGENT  /  How to register for: THAI PASS

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Thailand reinstates quarantine for foreign visitors

Thailand has reinstated its mandatory Covid-19 quarantine for foreign visitors and scrap a quarantine waiver from today (Tuesday 21st) due to concerns over the spread of the Omicron variant of the coronavirus.
The decision to halt Thailand’s ‘Test and Go’ waiver means visitors will have to undergo hotel quarantine, which ranges between 7 to 10 days.

Meanwhile, a so-called “sandbox” programme, which requires visitors to remain in a specific location but allows them free movement outside of their accommodation, will also be suspended in all places except for the tourist resort island of Phuket.

“After December 21, there will be no new registrations for ‘Test and Go’, only quarantine or Phuket sandbox,” said deputy government spokeswoman Rachada Dhanadirek.

The announcement came a day after Thailand reported the first case of local transmission of the Omicron variant.

It also came weeks after Thailand reopened to foreign visitors in November, ending nearly 18 months of strict entry policies that contributed to a collapse in tourism, a key industry and economic driver that drew 40 million visitors in 2019.

About 200,000 visitors who had previously registered for the quarantine waiver and sandbox programme will still be eligible, said government spokesman Thanakorn Wangboonkongchana.

“This is not to shut off tourists but to temporarily suspend arrivals,” he said.

The decision will be reviewed on January 4, he added.

Source - BangkokJack

VISA AGENT  /  How to register for: THAI PASS

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