Thailand eyes one-week quarantine period for vaccinated visitors

This article is more than 12 months old

Sep 24, 2021 06:00 am

BANGKOK: Thailand's disease control committee has proposed halving a two-week hotel isolation requirement for vaccinated arrivals, amid delays in plans to waive quarantine and reopen Bangkok and tourist destinations from next month.

Thailand is keen to welcome back foreign visitors after nearly 18 months of strict entry policies caused a collapse in tourism, a key sector that drew 40 million visitors in 2019.

"Reducing the quarantine is not only about tourism, but will help business travel and foreign students," senior health official Opas Karnkawinpong told a news conference, adding tests would also be required.

Under the proposal, those without vaccination proof would be isolated for 10 days if arriving by air, and 14 days if by land.

The authorities this week delayed to November plans to grant vaccinated visitors entry without quarantine, due to the country's low inoculation rate.

Only Phuket and Samui islands currently waive quarantine for vaccinated tourists, as part of a pilot scheme. - REUTERS