Thailand To Welcome Fully Vaccinated Visitors From Low-Risk Countries From Nov - PM Prayuth

BANGKOK, Oct 12 (Bernama) -- Thailand is to welcome fully vaccinated international visitors from low-risk countries starting November 1 in a bid to revive its tourism industry hit hard by the COVID-19 pandemic. In a televised address, Thailand’s Prime Minister Prayuth Chan o-cha said visitors from at least 10 low-risk countries including United Kingdom, Singapore, Germany, China, and the United States entering the kingdom by air would be exempted from quarantine. He said more countries will be added to the list by December and by January 1 there will be a very extensive list. “Visitors from countries not on the list, will, of course, still be much welcomed, but with quarantine and other requirements,” he said. He added that visitors from low-risk countries will need to show that they were COVID-19 free at their time of travel with an RT-PCR test undertaken before they leave their home country and another test in Thailand. Prayuth said he had instructed the Centre for COVID-19 Situation Administration (CCSA) and Public Health Ministry to urgently consider the reopening plan within this week. Meanwhile, Prayuth said Thailand plans to allow resumption of alcoholic beverages in restaurants as well as the operation of entertainment venues under appropriate health precautions starting December 1 to support the revitalization of the tourism and leisure sectors especially during new year. In mid-June, Prayuth announced Thailand to reopen the country to fully vaccinated visitors within 120 days or by mid-October. He described the reopening to low-risk countries ‘first small but important step” in decisively beginning the process of trying to restore livelihoods. “During the last few weeks some of Thailand’s most important tourist source countries have begun to ease their travel restrictions on their citizens – countries like the UK, Singapore and Australia have started to ease travel restrictions on their citizens visiting other countries. “With these developments, we must act quickly but still cautiously, and not miss the opportunity to entice some of the year-end and new year holiday season travelers during the next few months to support the many millions of people who earn a living from our tourism, travel and entertainment sectors as well as the many other related sectors,” he said. -- BERNAMA