Thailand to welcome more fully-vaccinated tourists starting October

In Thailand's efforts to revive its tourism industry, the Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) announced on Monday, September 27, that the Centre for COVID-19 Situation Administration has approved the four-phase timeline for the country's reopening to foreign arrivals.

More famous tourist destinations in the country will soon reopen and welcome more foreign tourists, given that they will strictly follow the assigned health protocols. 

The four-phase timeline of Thailand's plans to revitalize its tourism industry sees the gradual reopening of tourism-driven destinations.

The reopening of the new designated areas in Krabi—Khlong Muang and Thap Khaek followed the initial reopening of Phuket, Surat Thani's Samui, Ko Pha-ngan, and Ko Tao last July, and the most recently opened areas, Krabi and Phang-Nga on August 16, linked with Phuket under the 7+7 Extension management.
 

See below the list of and tourist spots and areas that will reopen according to the timeline:

Pilot Phase (October 1 to 31, 2021)

- Phuket

- Surat Thani’s Samui

- Ko Pha-ngan

- Ko Tao

- Krabi

- Phang-Nga

- Krabi-Khlong Muang

- Thap Kaek
 

First Phase (November 1 to 30, 2021)

- Bangkok

- All areas of Krabi

- All areas of Phang-Nga

- Designated areas in Buri Ram (Mueang)

- Chiang Mai (Mueang, Mae rim, Mae Taeng, Doi Tao)

- Chon Buri (Pattaya, Bang Lamung, Na Jomtien, Sattahip)

- Loui (Chiang Khan)

- Phetchaburi (Cha-Am)

- Prachuap Khiri Khan (Hua Hin)

- Ranong (Ko Phayam)
 

Second Phase (December 1 to 31, 2021)

- Ayutthaya

- Chiang Rai

- Khon Kaen

- Lamphun

- Mae Hong Son

- Nakhon Ratchasima

- Nakhon Si Thammarat

- Narathiwat

- Nong Khai

- Pathum Thani

- Phatthalung, Phetchabun

- Phrae

- Rayong

- Samut Prakan

- Songkhla

- Sukhothai

- Trang

- Trat

- Yala
 

Third Phase (January 1, 2022, onwards)

- Bueng Kan

- Chanthaburi

- Kanchanaburi

- Mukdahan

- Nakhon Phanom

- Nan

- Ratchaburi

- Sa Kaeo

- Surin 

- Tak

- Ubon Ratchathani

- Udon Thani

 

What are the travel requirements?

From the initial 14-day quarantine, the days for fully vaccinated international arrivals were shortened to just seven days.

Phuket, however, implements quarantine-free travel under the Sandbox model, which allows tourists not to undergo quarantine, as long as they stay on the island for seven days and undergo RT-PCR testing twice.

Meanwhile, international travelers who have not completed their vaccination will still be required to complete quarantine—10 days if they entered Thailand by sea or by air, and 14 days if they entered by land.

As of September 28, Thailand has logged 9,489 cases, which brings the total cases to 1,581,415. Meanwhile, the country has administered a total of 51,398,473 COVID-19 jabs.