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Thailand eyes more travel bubbles after reducing quarantine requirements
October 6th 2021
Travel bubbles with South Korea and India are reportedly on the Tourism Authority of Thailand’s (TAT) radar after the decision to reduce Thai quarantine requirements for vaccinated travellers. Read More » Thailand dropped its quarantine requirement from 14 to seven days for vaccinated travellers on October 1. Under the new regime, travellers must present a vaccine certificate at their point of entry into Thailand and undergo two RT-PCR tests, one upon arrival and the other towards the end of the quarantine period. Thailand also has 10-day and 14-day quarantine period for travellers who have been partially vaccinated, do not have vaccination certificate or are unvaccinated.
TAT deputy governor of marketing for Asia and South Pacific, Thanet Phetsuwan, told the Bangkok Post South Korea and India were markets that could be a source of tourists. Thanet said Thailand had been in talks with South Korea before the latest outbreak of COVID infections and that an air travel bubble agreement could allow direct and chartered flights to Thailand. Japan was lifting a State of Emergency that could lead to eased travel restrictions in the near future, he said.
In other regional developments, Bloomberg reported Singapore was looking at more travel lanes by year end and was in negotiations with several countries. But Australian prime minister, Scott Morrison, confirmed tourists would not have access to his country until next year. Morrison said vaccinated Australian residents living in New South Wales would be able to travel and return when 80% of the state’s residents were double vaccinated. Australian citizens and residents living overseas also would be able to return once quarantine procedures were in place. The next priority was skilled migrants, he said. “They're another important priority and we will get to international visitors as well, I believe, next year,’’ Morrison said.
